Accuracy and resilience of Triton remote sensing system in extreme climates allows pioneering wind energy producer Puhuri to exploit wind potential in sub-zero Arctic conditions
The Triton Wind Profiler manufactured by Vaisala, a global leader in environmental and industrial measurement, has shown exceptional performance across two winters in the northern reaches of Finland. With two Tritons measuring the wind for Finnish developer and operator Puhuri Oy, Vaisala has demonstrated the unmatched resilience of the system in extreme winter conditions and the strategic and logistical advantages of remote sensing for wind energy firms in cold climates across the globe.
“We build and operate wind parks in some of the world’s most challenging weather conditions,” said Teppo Hilakivi, Technical Expert at Puhuri Oy. “Vaisala’s Triton is the only practical way to reduce the uncertainty in our annual energy projections, allowing us to improve the profitability of our development process.”
Wind energy developers are increasingly exploring wind potential in northern latitudes, encouraged by high wind speeds and a clear route to project permitting far from population centers. Innovation in cold-climate wind turbine technology, such as anti-icing and heating systems, has accelerated the expansion of the wind energy in markets such as northern Europe and Canada.
However, while advancements in turbine technology are driving growth, shortfalls in traditional resource assessment and site analysis approaches have in many cases thwarted the efforts of developers and operators in these regions. Cold, icy weather complicates the installation of measurement masts and can damage mechanical sensors, while off-grid locations and low solar availability in polar regions make it difficult and costly to keep large instruments powered-up.
Remote sensing is swiftly becoming the preferred approach for collecting hub-height measurements for wind resource assessment and also enables developers to collect reliable early-site data before making further investment decisions. Yet, when it comes to operations in temperatures down to -40°C, many remote sensing devices suffer from performance and reliability issues – ranging from icing issues to intensive fuel requirements – that ultimately drive up maintenance costs and affect the quality of the data collected.
Hilakivi of Puhuri commented: “Triton’s resilience in cold climate conditions is impressive -its measurements are very accurate and the power consumption is so low that we can easily keep it running for three or four months without refueling. And when it does come time to move the Triton to a new site, it’s light enough to be towed by a normal passenger car.”
Vaisala’s Triton Wind Profiler is built to withstand harsh winter weather conditions and the compact, mobile unit has the lowest power requirements of any system used in the wind industry. With an optional methanol-fueled extended power option to supplement the Triton’s solar panels during low sunlight months, the system offers continuous, unattended operation for several months without refueling.
These features have enabled Puhuri to conduct extensive 6- to 14-month measurement campaigns throughout northern Finland, improving the profitability of the company’s wind development projects.
Vaisala’s Triton Wind Profiler has been deployed at over 3,700 locations across more than 30 countries worldwide to support project stakeholders from site and resource assessment to ongoing operational performance analysis.
To learn more about Puhuri Oy’s use of the Triton, please click here to read the full case study.
Vaisala is an expert in wind measurement, project assessment, and energy forecasting. For more information on the range of services offered by Vaisala to the renewable energy sector, please visit www.vaisala.com/energy.
Vaisala Energy
Weather provides the fuel for renewable energy projects and is one of the largest variables impacting production. Vaisala uses more than 80 years of weather expertise to help the global renewable energy industry develop and operate wind and solar projects better, faster and more efficiently. Our measurement, assessment, forecasting and asset management products and services leverage proven science and advanced technology to mitigate the impact of weather risks on energy generation and support profitable decision-making across the entire project lifecyle, from greenfield prospecting and due diligence through operational forecasting and plant optimization. www.vaisala.com/energy twitter.com/VaisalaEnergy linkedin.com/company/vaisala-energy
About Vaisala
Vaisala is a global leader in environmental and industrial measurement. Building on 80 years of experience, Vaisala contributes to a better quality of life by providing a comprehensive range of innovative observation and measurement products and services for chosen weather-related and industrial markets. Headquartered in Finland, Vaisala employs approximately 1600 professionals worldwide and is listed on the NASDAQ OMX Helsinki stock exchange. www.vaisala.com www.twitter.com/VaisalaGroup
