Apex Wind Energy and Second Wind have announced the commencement of a wind farm optimization (WFO) campaign using two Triton advanced sonic detection and ranging systems at a utility-scale wind project under development by Apex.
The WFO represents the first case of multiple mobile ground-based wind measurement instruments being deployed simultaneously to verify several project sub-sectors and enhance pre-construction energy estimates, according to the companies.
Several years of data have been gathered at the Midwest site from 50-meter and 60-meter meteorological towers that have been used for preliminary energy estimates and to guide the design of various wind farm layouts.
Both Tritons have been deployed and will be moved around the site to collect hub-height wind speed data as well as wind speed (shear) and directional (veer) profiles. The Triton data will enable Apex to evaluate and optimize turbine layout and reduce annual energy production uncertainty estimates, according to the company.
Apex and Second Wind will periodically re-valuate the energy analysis as additional data sets are completed to update the project's financial estimates.
