Shared Community LIDAR? A challenge, and an opportunity.
Sunart Community Renewables currently own and operate a 100kW community hydro scheme in Strontian in the West Highlands of Scotland. We are looking at expanding our portfolio of renewable generation and are well along the feasibility paths of both solar and wind schemes.
The site we have in mind for a wind turbine is too steep and too uneven for a conventional anemometer mast (and covered in rock and deep peat – like much of Scotland!), so we’ve been looking at using wind LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging – a clever laser scanning gadget to you and me) data instead. Renting a LIDAR would cost at least twice the price of an anemometer, and is almost a barrier to entry for us.
Almost.
While we could seek funding for the rental, it would only cost an additional 15% (more or less) to purchase a LIDAR unit with a shelf life of 10 years. If other communities could use this, the cost per use would be a far more efficient use of funds overall. We’ve been talking this over with a supplier who would store and service a unit in between field placement, and could arrange transport. During that period, the unit could quite easily be used five times by ourselves and other groups at significantly reduced costs.
If you represent a community group that:
- Is considering wind power as an option, or
- Has considered and dismissed wind power due to the cost of a wind yield survey
then maybe we can work together.
We’d love to hear from other like-minded communities. It would build our case for funding, and could give you a much less expensive route through your own project.
To contact us, drop us an email at info@sunartcommunityrenewables.org.uk and we can sort out a time to discuss the details.