WindSentinel Ready for US Navy Validation of Floating LiDAR

AXYS Technologies Inc (AXYS) is pleased to announce it has completed pre-commissioning of a WindSentinel platform for the United States Navy project to validate an offshore floating LiDAR wind resource assessment system. AXYS teamed up with Sound & Sea Technology (SST) as well as DNV GL to secure the US Navy contract and supply the system. The LiDAR underwent an initial six month side by side testing process overseen by DNV GL in 2013. Upon passing this test the LiDAR was integrated onto the WindSentinel platform.

AXYS and SST personnel assisted in the commissioning of the WindSentinel platform the week of May 12th in Port Hueneme, California. The WindSentinel is now ready for deployment and waiting the final deployment location to be determined by the US Navy.

AXYS supplied the WindSentinel floating LiDAR system, which accurately measures offshore wind speed and direction up to the blade-tip heights of 200m. The WindSentinel has recorded a number of world firsts, including the first commercial deployment and the most remote LiDAR offshore wind resource assessment ever conducted, 36 miles offshore.

Sound & Sea Technology will provide overall management of the program, coordination with the Navy, ocean engineering expertise, environmental planning and installation support.

DNV GL will provide an independent evaluation of the validity of the floating LiDAR system by identifying measurement requirements and metrics to qualify the system for use in wind power development. These metrics will be adapted from DNV GL’s recommended practice for validating LIDAR measurements, "DNV Sodar and Lidar Guidelines."

WindSentinel buoy deployment May 2014. Photo Credit: US Navy

Sound & Sea, Inc. is a Woman-Owned small business with offices in Lynnwood and Poulsbo WA, Ventura and San Diego CA and Washington DC. SST provides ocean engineering expertise to the U. S. Navy, other government agencies, the marine renewable energy industry and the undersea telecommunications industry. For further information, contact SST at info@soundandsea.com or visit www.soundandsea.com.

DNV GL’s team of over 150 wind energy professionals has been supporting and actively involved in the wind industry for more than 20 years. Their wind energy segment specializes in providing feasibility consulting, analysis, design, testing, management, certification, and verification services to a wide range of wind industry clients. DNV GL’s experience includes utility-scale and small-scale applications of onshore and offshore wind energy technologies. Their personnel have worked on wind projects in more than 40 U.S. states and 30 countries. www.gl-group.com

About AXYS Technologies

AXYS Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, distributes and maintains remote environmental data acquisition, processing and telemetry systems. For further information contact AXYS at info@axys.com or visit www.axystechnologies.com