Brazil’s largest wind energy developer has adopted Second Wind’s remote sensing technology as part of its standard practice in wind measurement. The agreement by São Paulo-based Casa dos Ventos Energias Renováveis to purchase Second Wind's Triton® SoDARs and Pentalum Technologies Ltd.'s SpiDAR™ LiDARs represents a significant endorsement of remote sensing technology as an essential complement to meteorological tower data in wind resource assessment.
Remote sensing systems calculate wind speed, wind direction, and other wind data by measuring reflections or echoes of sound or laser pulses. Triton and SpiDAR are easily relocated and provide wind measurements up to and above a commercial wind turbine's hub height. This answers the wind industry's need for data at higher heights and more locations than can be cost-effectively acquired using met towers.
The decision by an influential Brazilian wind developer to use remote sensing -- Casa dos Ventos deploys 100 meteorological towers annually -- reflects the widespread acceptance of SoDAR and LiDAR technology by the wind power industry.
Casa dos Ventos already uses Second Wind's Nomad wind data loggers and sensors on over 250 meteorological towers to measure, record, and transmit wind data on its large portfolio of prospective wind farm sites and working wind farms throughout Brazil. During 2012, Casa dos Ventos purchased and began using several Tritons. The results of six to eight months of operation convinced the company to standardize on and invest in a large number of Tritons.
In addition, the company's favorable experience with Second Wind's support and field services helped it decide to standardize on Second Wind as a supplier. Araripe says: "When we bought our first Triton, Second Wind arranged for several of our technicians to be trained and certified in Triton installation and operations. With SkyServe, Second Wind’s support technicians monitor our Tritons daily and can do remote diagnostics and even certain repairs and upgrades over the Internet. In addition, Second Wind has a local partner who can service our equipment. We are confident in Second Wind’s ability to support a large fleet of remote sensing systems."