Posters

Abstract

On every wind turbine there is a simple wind sensor that is used for turbine control and performance monitoring. Since this sensor is typically located behind the rotor, the measurements do not represent the incoming wind but only the wind that has passed the rotor and been swirled by it. Nacelle-mounted wind lidars use laser beams to measure the incoming wind up to a distance of several hundred meters. In the onshore wind industry, the use of nacelle-mounted lidars is not yet established, which leaves an enormous potential untapped. With the upcoming international standard IEC 61400-50-3, reliable and traceable measurements will become possible. Improved turbine operation using nacelle-mounted wind lidars not only enables longer turbine life and higher revenues for operators but also new business models for wind turbine and lidar manufacturers, wind farm operators as well as testing and certification companies. But for which areas of application can nacelle lidars already be usefully employed? And what are the current limitations and pitfalls? Early 2021 the two Fraunhofer Institutes IEE and IWES have joined forces to address these issues. Together, they form the competence center for onshore nacelle-mounted wind lidar measurements »GoLidar«. This contribution presents results of first pilot measurements deploying different types of nacelle lidars in different settings. Onshore wind power activities are typically shaped by SMEs. For this reason, the measurements within GoLidar were carried out in cooperation with various SMEs.