Ecofys completes construction of 120-m mast at Test Site Lelystad in the Netherlands.
Construction of a 120-m mast for wind measurements at Test Site Lelystad has been completed by Ecofys Wind Turbine Testing Services.
Construction of a 120-m mast for wind measurements at Test Site Lelystad has been completed by Ecofys Wind Turbine Testing Services. The met mast is the tallest mast of its kind in Northwest Europe to date and will deliver meteorological data for testing wind turbine prototypes. Ecofys performed the design, contracting, and installation of the mast which has been erected ahead of schedule in August 2013.
Taller hub heights requires wind shear information at increasing heights. The new met mast is equipped with instrumentation at 40, 80, 95, and 120m to provide verification testing services for remote sensing devices such as SoDARs (Sonic Detection And Ranging) and LiDARs (Light Detection and Ranging). For this purpose, a special test-pad has been designed and installed next to the mast, for safe, plug-and-play installation and power and network feeds to install up to ten remote sensing machines in parallel. In early August, the first set of new machines was installed for verification on site.
Test Site Lelystad in the Netherlands is the largest wind turbine test facility in Europe. The Dutch testing facility, on Wageningen University grounds and operated by Ecofys WTTS, can service twelve turbines with tip heights up to 200m and a combined installed capacity of up to 30 MW. The accredited measurement services are provided by Ecofys in collaboration with windtest grevenbroich GmbH. The site is booked until 2017.
“By now, remote sensing technology such as LiDARs and SoDARs are accepted to assess wind resources and to verify power curves,” says Michiel Müller, Ecofys Unit Director Wind Energy. “A high quality verification of these measuring devices is essential. This new extra tall and fully equipped mast provides those means and lets wind project developers and owners take full advantage of this next innovative step in technology.”
Ecofys
www.ecofys.com
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