An Application of LIDAR Technology for Wind Speed Measurement

The ongoing growth of electricity consumption, along with decarbonization policies adopted worldwide, implies a steeper rate regarding the use of such renewable and clean energy sources. The proper evaluation of wind potential is of utmost importance for developing a wind farm project, as it allows the identification of the optimum site for wind turbine installation and the type of wind turbine to be installed in that specific site. This paper aims to evaluate the wind potential in a particular site from the north side of Romania's Moldova region, measuring the wind speeds at various altitudes using the cutting-edge technology of Laser Imaging, Detection, and Ranging (LIDAR). Measurements were conducted at multiple heights, over an entire year, with data being processed and analyzed. The wind speed was evaluated, along with the duration for each recorded speed, and wind direction. Thus, the wind potential in the considered area was evaluated.