Vertical profiling of the offshore wind
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The 3D-scanning capability of SgurrEnergy’s Galion Lidar, combined with its pulsed Lidar technology, allows the G250 Offshore model to acquire a hemisphere of wind data with a 500m diameter footprint.
Now Galion Lidar has been deployed on FINO1, Europe’s most established offshore met mast. Located in the German North Sea, the offshore research platform is equipped by German Wind Energy Institute, DEWI, with meteorological sensors to study the offshore environment.
The FINO 1 platform, brought into service in 2003, is used to execute extensive technical and biological measuring programmes and the results make an important contribution towards improving the available data for the offshore area under investigation. This data will help to reduce the existing risks in the design, erection and operation of offshore wind turbines.
The three month deployment of the Galion G250 Offshore model on the platform will primarily be used to measure the vertical profile of the wind. As the first 3D scanning Lidar to be deployed on FINO1, more advanced mast replacement scans can be trialled along with wind flow visualisation scanning. It is expected that the data acquired by Galion will be used to inform understanding of the conditions in which large offshore turbines operate.
The G250 Offshore model deployed on FINO1 is a short range unit and, within its 250m range, allows measurements to be made in any direction. Measuring to heights twice that of the FINO1 met mast will provide a data set that accurately represents wind flow across the entire span of the rotor.
The data collected by the Galion Lidar during the measurement campaign on FINO1 will not only contribute to impact assessments for potential offshore wind farms, but it can be used to verify the accuracy of the Galion compared to the met mast data.
Dr Beatriz Cañadillas, from Research & Studies department at DEWI, said of the deployment: “We see the importance of wind Lidars in the offshore environment and we are looking forward to seeing the first comparison results.”
Richard Boddington, director of measurement and analysis for SgurrEnergy, which is part of Wood Group, commented: “The FINO1 mast is a great facility and we are excited to see the deployment of Galion for DEWI’s comparison study. We believe that Lidar devices offer the offshore industry a flexible, cost effective means for assessing offshore wind resource with significant impact on the operational success of projects. This deployment is a fantastic opportunity for SgurrEnergy to demonstrate the accuracy of Lidar technology in the offshore environment.”
For more information, visit www.sgurrenergy.com
Renewable Energy
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