{"id":17016,"date":"2019-07-23T09:01:52","date_gmt":"2019-07-23T07:01:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/?p=17016"},"modified":"2025-06-11T12:49:53","modified_gmt":"2025-06-11T10:49:53","slug":"onshore-wind-measurements-using-vertical-profiling-lidar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.victronenergy.com\/blog\/2019\/07\/23\/onshore-wind-measurements-using-vertical-profiling-lidar\/","title":{"rendered":"Onshore wind measurements using vertical profiling Lidar"},"content":{"rendered":"

We get some unusual applications of Victron Energy products and this seems to be in that class – a niche market where wind measurements need to be taken for onshore wind farms.<\/p>\n

This installation uses Victron components to give power to and allow a vertical profiling Lidar measuring device to run with a 24\/7 electricity supply, utilising off-grid battery\/solar power.<\/p>\n

This sophisticated wind Lidar<\/a> solution collects precise data at differing elevations, providing an ideal resource assessment for wind turbine optimisation and monitoring – be that in the development or the operational phase.<\/p>\n

Often proposed wind farms are in remote areas areas and getting a reliable electricity supply is no mean feat. Of course just a generator could be used but that is not the most environmentally friendly solution and it requires a constant supply of diesel – not a situation you want when a site is on a mountain top! Better to have a generator as backup.<\/p>\n

The team at PhilSolar revel in such remote challenges and a few months ago they were approached with just that.<\/p>\n

Modular design<\/h2>\n

The challenge was to design a system that could be easily constructed and initially tested in an on-grid friendly environment and then transported to be rebuilt at a site, then moved to another site as required – as these Lidars are moved regularly. A plug and play modular system was the solution.<\/p>\n

PhilSolar designed a solar\/battery enclosure with blower and exhaust fans, programmed to run during the heat of the day. Two temperature sensors measure the internal enclosure and external temperatures. The blower has a capacity 130 CFM (Cubic Feet per Minute) creating an airflow through the enclosure.<\/p>\n

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The metal enclosure contains 2 x MPPT solar chargers, 2 x battery chargers and 2 x 12.8V\/100Ah lithium batteries in parallel, along with local and remote setup\/monitoring.<\/p>\n

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Added to that is a standalone solar array of 2 x 2 x 270Wp solar panels so energy is assured throughout the year, including periods of poor PV harvest. This solar array is enough to charge the batteries in most situations at the various locations, however a backup generator is also available just in case.<\/p>\n

Connections<\/h4>\n

The modular components have plug and play connections. For the backup generator a Victron shore power cable is used along with a Victron stainless steel power inlet which is built into the enclosure. For the Lidar its power cable is connected to an Anderson plug and a corresponding one to the enclosure. For the solar array MC4 connectors are used.<\/p>\n

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All components including the batteries have Bluetooth communication and can easily be setup and checked with a smartphone on site.<\/p>\n

The backup generator is connected to the 2 x 25A battery chargers, however the use of the generator is expected to be infrequent.<\/p>\n

A Venus GX and a GX GSM with an external antenna is connected to the system for remote communication and management via the VRM<\/a>.<\/p>\n

System components<\/h4>\n