First Wind, an independent US-based renewable energy company, is implementing a Wind Iris Lidar to optimize the performance of its wind turbines. The decision to purchase the Avent Lidar Technology system resulted from a successful field trial that used data from the nacelle-mounted Lidar to correct yaw error and increase total energy production.
First Wind wanted to improve the yaw alignment of an underperforming wind turbine to maximize its energy capture. Analysis of the SCADA data—including measurements from a nearby met mast and the vane measurement from the wind turbine—was not enough to determine the correction needed. Therefore, the company decided to test a Wind Iris on the turbine.
The Wind Iris collected wind speed and direction data ahead of the turbine for 30 days. Analysis showed an average yaw error of seven degrees. A correction factor was then applied to the yaw measurement and 15 additional days of measurement using the Wind Iris revealed that the yaw error had been eliminated.
By eliminating the yaw error, the annual energy production (AEP) of the wind turbine increased by 1.8%. This was calculated with a power curve estimation model using Wind Iris data, and it was also independently verified by comparing the relative increase in turbine production with nearby turbines that had not been optimized. While project-specific revenue impacts for this case are not available, increasing the AEP of 20 2MW turbines by 1.8% while selling power for $60/MW-hr would have a $155,340 benefit.
Avent Lidar Technology is a joint venture between US-based Renewable NRG Systems and France-based Leosphere. According to the company, this is the first Lidar dedicated to turbine performance evaluation. It uses pulsed Lidar technology to measure horizontal wind speed and direction at distances of 40 to 400 meters upwind of the turbine. It has been specifically designed for repeat installations, providing the ability to rapidly optimize a wind farm.
Back to News
