WIND ENERGY PROJECT FINANCING ONSHORE CASE STUDY with Zephir Lidar

WIND ENERGY PROJECT FINANCING ONSHORE CASE STUDY with ZephIR Lidar

“ZephIR delivers bankable, finance-grade wind data to Banks taking sites forward in a timely, cost effective and safe manner - correlations with a short mast are far better than often found when comparing two cup anemometers.” - REG Windpower

world-leading lidar innovation finance-grade, ‘bankable’ wind data sets unparalleled data availability at all heights accurate, proven measurements in all terrains 650+ deployments and 3 million hours operation zephirlidar.com REG windpower ltd.

Established in 1989 as Cornwall Light & Power, REG Windpower develops, builds and owns wind farms. The company now operate eleven wind farms (with a further two in construction) in England & Wales with an additional 900MW+ in development across the UK.

In 2009, REG performed a strategic review of their approach to wind monitoring and the question was raised how to monitor wind more rapidly and more cost effectively against anemometry with traditional tall met masts.

Zephir + short mast methodology

REG implemented a strategy for 16 metre short met masts In 2009, REG purchased three ZephIRs to operate across the coupled with 6 month ZephIR lidar deployments for the rapid company’s entire portfolio of projects. The methodology is to and cost effective measurement of wind quality on potential install the short mast as the long term reference, collecting sites, for the following reasons: at least 12 months data covering seasonal variation. The ZephIR is installed for 6 months next to the mast - 6 months 1. Short masts are easier to get planning permission to is an adequate length of time to measure a significant range install on site - taller masts can take much longer. of wind speeds across all sectors. 2. ZephIR is on site very quickly taking measurements instantly at hub height and beyond. Full and detailed energy yield calculations and uncertainty 3. Over a portfolio of sites, and over a short number of analyses provide the necessary input to Energy Yield years ZephIR and short masts are more cost effective. Analysis reports. Two alternative approaches were 4. ZephIR measures down to just 10 metres allowing for considered using either the ZephIR as the main source of the correlation of ZephIR + Short Mast. data and establishing hub height data outside the ZephIR deployment period using the correlation to the mast, or using the mast as the main source of data and the ZephIR to verify wind shear to the turbine hub height.

Zephir features

ZephIR measures wind characteristics onshore and on fixed or floating platforms offshore from just 10 metres (33 feet) up to 200 metres (656 feet) from installed position to inform wind regime and quality studies during the development and operation of wind farms onshore and offshore.

Independent studies and world-first measurements taken inside a wind tunnel demonstrate the unparalleled level of quality within each system, proven further across more than 3 million hours of operation and over 650 deployments.

Key features include low height measurements down to just 10 metres where the most significant changes in wind speed and direction are often found due to terrain effects. sancton hill wind farm

ZephIR was deployed at Sancton Hill Wind Farm - a correlations between the ZephIR and mast at the 16m moderately simple site - 12 metres away from the mast, height were observed with just 0.9% variation in all situated inside a low-cost agricultural trailer with a sectors overall. No other considerations to structures traditional generator providing the power requirement. nearby were needed. The 16m mast, also installed by For security, wheels from the trailer were removed and Wind Measurement International comprised MEASNET a ground anchor deployed. ZephIR is fitted with a GPS calibrated A-100 Vector LK class 1 cup anemometers; two tracker for additional security. at 16m and one at 10m.

ZephIR was deployed by Wind Measurement Communication to the ZephIR was via a Campbell International (formerly Heidra) on behalf of REG, on Scientific Datalogger which can be used to integrate 26th Nov 2010 and remained there until 24th July 2011. and synchronise lidar data with other forms of It collected data at heights of 16m, 30m, 60m, 70m instrumentation such as met mast towers, providing and 110m during these periods and the data was it seamlessly through a gathered remotely through the system’s simple Waltz single gateway. User Interface. Throughout the campaign, very strong

independent advice & financial close

GL Garrad Hassan has engaged Neither company presented any issues with the data with stakeholders in the industry collected. One key area of both companies’ ability to over the last six years to review use the ZephIR data was the performance verification the development of remote sensing technology and uniquely provided with every system due to the rigorous recommend successful deployment strategies. Acting as acceptance tests performed at the UK’s Lidar and Sodar Banks Engineer for this site, GL Garrad Hassan provided test site against an IEC compliant tall met mast. detailed energy yield calculations and uncertainty analysis to provide the necessary Energy Yield Analysis (P50 & Reports were submitted to The Co-Operative Bank who P90) report; using the short mast data and the ZephIR data found there to be no issues with the wind data collected as verification of the wind shear. nor the methodology used. No additional requirements were placed on REG. Wind resource assessment consultancy Prevailing also provided a report In early Oct 2012, project financing was granted to REG identifying the P50 and P90. A by the Co-op for GBP£10m at a rate of 5.7% The data correlation between the devices was used to combine the collected was also used to inform site condition reports longer period of mast data with the hub height ZephIR for the turbine contract with Vestas. measurements.

moving forward

Following deployment at Sancton Hill Wind Farm, REG’s REG have also been using the ZephIR systems for a three ZephIRs are now back out on site on new projects range of additional applications, including: across Cornwall, mid-Wales and Cumbria. It is expected that 3-4 more REG wind farms will go through financing • Power performance measurements on a single with the ZephIR + Short Mast Methodology in the near turbine site extension in Ramsey, Peterborough. future. • Noise monitoring using ZephIR for 1 month periods across 5-6 sites already and is planned across the portfolio of sites. To discuss your wind energy projects with the world’s most experienced wind lidar company, please get in touch:

T +44 (0) 1531 650 757 E [email protected] W www.zephirlidar.com

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