Turbine-mounted Lidars (laser-based wind measurement sensors) provide wind farm owners and operators with the opportunity to benchmark and optimise both new and old wind farms.
Power curves can be generated by Lidars, improving on existing turbine anemometry accuracy and consistency, removing the reliance on accurate nacelle transfer function (NTF) calibration. Lidar measurements at multiple ranges inside the turbine's induction zone can reduce the impact of terrain, and wind wall (turbine array) effects, so reducing measurement uncertainty. Circular scan continuous wave (CW) Lidars provide highly sensitive, high resolution wind measurements around the whole rotor disk used to identify flow caused by terrain, wakes or forestry and can be used in all environments, not limited by atmospheric conditions.
Optimisation methodologies for a wind farm may therefore include power curve measurement (hub height and rotor equivalent), wind yaw misalignment, turbine anemometry calibration, veer and shear assessment, wake and curtailment management. Any benefits gained from upgrades to turbines can be assessed and any change in turbine performance over time identified.
Wind Farm Post Construction Yield Assessments can be undertaken with this more accurate wind data may provide opportunities to release equity, or restructure finance on the project with increased certainty.