NRG Systems, leading U.S. manufacturer of wind measurement equipment, and Leosphere, leading specialist in lidar (laser radar) for atmospheric observations, have announced the formation of a global partnership to expand the use of remote sensing with lidar in the wind energy industry. The first product of the partnership is the WINDCUBE lidar wind measurement system, a remote sensor used in site assessment and wind farm performance monitoring.
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“I couldn’t be happier to announce this news,” said Alex Sauvage, president and CEO of Leosphere. “The WINDCUBE is the result of 20 years of intensive research and development – it’s a flexible, easy-to-use technology that has proven to reduce data uncertainty and project risks in the wind energy industry. Partnering with NRG Systems sends a signal that using lidar in wind resource assessment is an accepted part of the process.”
Today, the WINDCUBE has been deployed by developers, consultants, turbine manufacturers, and research institutes in 18 countries around the world. In site assessment, the portable system is used to capture actual measurements at heights up to 200 meters that can be used along with met mast data. With NRG Systems’ wind measurement expertise and industry knowledge, the companies aim to accelerate the use of this proven technology around the globe.
“As the industry has evolved so has the need to measure accurately and reliably at taller heights,” said Jan Blittersdorf, president and CEO of NRG Systems. “For more than twenty-five years, NRG Systems has been devoted to providing the best wind measurement equipment to the industry. Partnering with Leosphere on this exciting initiative is a sensible step for our company and for the industry.”
The WINDCUBE lidar remote sensor provides 200-meter vertical wind profiles, mapping wind speed and direction, turbulence, and wind shear. The portable system includes ten programmable measurement heights with an automatic data filter for ready to use data and a waterproof, dustproof enclosure for all weather conditions. This active remote sensor operates by sending a laser pulse through the atmosphere. Along its path, the laser light is scattered by particles in the air (dust, water, aerosols, etc.) and bounced back to an optical sensor in the lidar unit. These signals capture the shift in atmospheric particles, or the absolute wind speed in the lidar line of sight.
