As part of this project Narec has deployed Natural Power’s ZephIR lidar at an onshore site close to the eventual offshore location to provide a greater understanding of the wind characteristics across the site. The ZephIR wind data is the initial phase of a comprehensive wind measurement campaign that will eventually include offshore measurements from the demonstrator site.

ZephIR lidar can provide wind measurements from 10 m to 200 m above the installed device.

The lower heights measured offer the opportunity to correlate with existing measurements whilst the higher heights will be of relevance to the next generation of offshore wind turbines, considering the heights that they could reach.

Nathalie Stevenson, Offshore Demonstrator Project Manager, says: “This is an important milestone for the project. Potential demonstrators require wind resource and energy yield data as soon as possible so that they can assess the suitability of the site for their next generation turbines.

"This deployment marks the start of a robust wind measurement campaign, and will be complimented by the deployment of a traditional anemometry mast and another lidar on the offshore platform which will be installed late spring/early summer next year.”

Narec is the national centre for the UK dedicated to development, demonstration, deployment and grid.