Manassas, Va.-based Catch the Wind Ltd. (CTW) has entered the test phase of its trial program with the Nebraska Public Power District (NPPD), following the successful development of capabilities to integrate the Vindicator laser wind sensor (LWS) with the control system of a wind turbine.
As part of the test phase, CTW is now progressing with the integration of a Vindicator LWS unit to control a working turbine located at NPPD's Ainsworth Wind Energy Facility located near Ainsworth, Neb.
The facility has 36 large wind turbines, each capable of generating up to 1.65 MW of energy, for a combined total of approximately 59 MW.
The trial program, which is designed to evaluate how using forward measurement of wind speed and direction to optimally align wind turbines with the approaching wind can reduce the off-axis stress loads on turbines, is expected to be completed by the end of September. The company believes that this reduction in off-axis loading will result in reduced maintenance costs and extended component lifetime.
SOURCE: Catch the Wind Ltd.
