Wind Resource Assessment Lidar

New low-cost remote sensing systems are needed to evaluate potential sites for wind turbines. The use of traditional meteorological towers with cup anemometers is becoming increasingly costly: as the size of the wind turbines continues to increase, the corresponding wind measurements must be obtained at greater and greater heights. This project will develop a new autonomous Wind Resource Assessment Lidar (WIRAL), based on a self-mixing interferometric and on a direct-detection Raman dual-wavelength lidar system. The new lidar system will measure wind and temperature at heights between 10 m and 200 m from ground level. The system will be solar powered, low cost, compact, transportable, and autonomous, and will have high temporal and spatial resolution. In Phase I, a proof-of-concept laboratory prototype was designed and built using commercial off-the-shelf components, and key system parameters for wind assessment were experimentally and theoretically investigated. Wind speed measurement accuracy of better than ±2% was demonstrated. Phase II will focus on (1) enhancing the range of operation by boosting the optical power of the emitter laser; (2) introducing electronically-controlled laser scanning and focusing components; (3) building custom optical assemblies to improve light collection efficiency ; and (4) developing a commercially viable WIRAL prototype. Commercial Applications and other Benefits as described by the awardee: The wind resource assessment system would be used to effectively and accurately measure wind conditions and assess potential wind farm sites, thereby speeding the installation of wind turbines for efficient and durable wind energy production at a fraction of the cost of any existing technological platform