Second Wind Remote Sensing Technology in the South African Wind Energy Market

The event in Cape Town, South Africa drew wind farm developers, researchers, technologists and financiers. Second Wind conducted a live demonstration of Triton’s remote sensing capabilities that included displaying real-time wind measurements with Second Wind’s SkyServe web-based wind data service. Attendees were impressed with Triton’s accuracy and the ease of setting it up – just over an hour from unloading it on the demonstration site to delivering data.

Said one attendee, "It was instructive to learn the risk management role Second Wind’s instruments play in the financing of projects. I found the way the company set up the remote data capture and monitoring to be an excellent quality management approach. The improvement the instrument provides over data from met masts is significant."

Triton is an advanced remote sensing system that uses sodar (sound detection and ranging) technology to measure wind in the areas that most affect a wind turbine’s performance. By measuring wind speeds at the turbine rotor’s hub height and beyond, Triton reduces uncertainty in annual energy production (AEP) forecasts. Easy to install and capable of autonomous operation, Tritons are being used throughout the wind industry, alone or in conjunction with met towers, to streamline the wind farm development process and to improve wind farm operations.

"There is a lot of potential for Triton to make a big impact in the South African wind energy market," said Chanda Kapande, Business Development Manager of Wind Prospect Africa. "Triton’s combination of accuracy, economy and portability make it a versatile solution for collecting data and making decisions quickly. That’s a valuable asset from early in the development process right through to operation."

Second Wind’s presence in the South African market has grown steadily since the first Tritons were installed there in June 2010. Since then, Second Wind has taken orders for five more Tritons, including several repeat orders from international wind farm developer Windlab. South Africa’s wind resources are estimated by SAWEA (South African Wind Energy Association) to exceed 30 GW by 2025. Several of the world’s leading wind turbines OEMs, wind farm project developers and service providers have already established a presence in South Africa.

Second Wind develops wind measurement systems that make wind power pay off for consumers, investors and the environment. The company’s technology provides wind farm developers with the bankable wind data they need to plan, finance and operate highly efficient wind generation facilities. Second Wind’s systems are making wind farm development profitable in 50 countries on seven continents. Second Wind’s systems include Triton(R), the wind industry’s leading remote sensing system; Nomad(R) 2 wind data logger systems; the ProMast 60(TM), a 60-meter meteorological mast; and the SkyServe(R) web-based data service.

www.secondwind.com/RSA