Multi-Lidar

This project is about the suitability of multi-lidar measurements in the field of site assessment of wind turbines and their optimal use.

In order to realize a wind farm project, it is necessary to evaluate corresponding areas for their site characteristics, such as wind potential. For this purpose, one-year measurements are classically carried out with a measuring mast. However, the erection of a mast is often associated with a lengthy approval procedure and the enlargement of the turbines makes mast measurements at hub height more cost-intensive. In recent years, a new remote measurement method for wind determination has become established: Lidar measurements.

Here, the wind speed is determined via the Doppler effect, i.e. the frequency shift of laser light emitted and backscattered by aerosols in the air. There are several types of these measurement devices. Multi-lidar devices consist of several scanning lidars that have ranges of several kilometers and can direct the laser beam in different directions due to their flexible scan head. With a multi-lidar system, measurements can be made at several points in the wind farm, so that overall the uncertainty of the wind potential determination can be reduced. Especially in more complex terrain, in larger wind farm projects or in the offshore area, multi-lidar measurements are therefore considered to have great potential for improving yield determination. A reduction of uncertainty in wind measurements results in a better credit rating and is therefore crucial for the realization of a wind farm project.

Currently, there is a lack of experience and guidelines for the industrial use of the multi-lidar system. Through this work, a scientific basis for the evaluation of the multi-lidar system in site assessment shall be established. For this purpose, the measurement uncertainties shall be quantified, multi- lidar measurements shall be evaluated in comparison to the other measurement systems and recommendations for an optimal measurement campaign shall be established.