ZephIR Combines Lidars with Offshore Substations

ZephIR Lidar has released details of a new meteorological standard which shows that offshore substations on operational wind farms can now be delivered with a ZephIR 300M wind lidar as part of a Meteorological Monitoring Module, eliminating the need for a traditional meteorological mast.

ZephIR Lidar has also appointed Engie Fabricom as a trusted service provider of the engineering and construction of the Lidar into the Met Monitoring Module.

Engie Fabricom and ZephIR Lidar have confirmed that two contracts are already in place on offshore wind farms with further details to be released in 2018.

“ENGIE Fabricom and ZephIR Lidar are already seeing significant demand for our Met Monitoring Module with ZephIR 300M wind Lidar. Our first two contracts are already well underway. This really is such a cost effective way of adding value to offshore substations and once again demonstrates the offshore wind industry breaking down barriers and embracing new concepts with clear safety and efficiency advantages,” said Alain Goddyn, Section Manager, Section Marine Technics at Engie Fabricom.

ZephIR 300M deployed on offshore substations is used for studying wind profiles as information for both helicopter approach and measuring wind at turbine nacelle level. Data is monitored, quality-checked and integrated to the turbine and site’s SCADA system. In this way, continual power curve assessment can also benchmark performance and provide advance warning of problems, assisting with the planning and execution of maintenance strategies, the company said.

Matthew Smith, Head of Business Development at ZephIR Lidar, said: “By utilising an existing offshore asset, the offshore substation, we are simply adding value at a very low cost that would otherwise be tens of £m to achieve. ZephIR 300M is accepted by Bank’s Engineer DNV GL for providing accurate wind measurements in this application, and the system is certified to be installed offshore.”

The offshore wind industry has for many years benefited from the contribution of Lidar through its advantages when compared to hub-height met masts, ZephIR Lidar said, adding that the deployment of masts in offshore locations presents significant challenges including economics, planning, foundations, maintenance and ecological requirements.