Authors
Stuttgart Wind Energy (SWE), University of Stuttgart, Allmandring 5b, 70569 Stuttgart, Germany
Abstract
Accurate reconstruction of wind fields is a prerequisite for offshore wind energy development, where floating lidar systems (FLS) are increasingly considered as cost-effective alternatives to conventional meteorological masts. While floating platforms offer flexibility and reduced deployment costs, motion-induced effects present significant challenges for the reliability of wind measurements.
This study reports on an experimental investigation of wind field reconstruction methods for a novel buoy-based scanning lidar concept. The experimental campaign was conducted onshore with two scanning lidar systems: one mounted on a motion platform to emulate buoy dynamics and the other installed in a fixed position to serve as a reference.
The primary focus is on velocity-azimuth display (VAD) methods combined with different scanning strategies, enabling a detailed assessment of reconstruction accuracy under controlled motion conditions. Wind speed estimates from the moving lidar are systematically compared against the stationary reference to quantify deviations introduced by motion.
The results show that platform dynamics can introduce measurable discrepancies in reconstructed wind speed. However, the application of suitable reconstruction techniques reduces these errors and improves agreement with stationary measurements.
The findings highlight both the challenges and the opportunities associated with integrating scanning lidar into floating platforms. This study demonstrates the potential of buoy-based scanning lidar to provide reliable offshore wind measurements, provided that appropriate correction methods are applied. Beyond quantifying motion-related uncertainties, the results contribute to the development of enhanced processing strategies and offer valuable insights into the role of scanning lidar in advancing future FLS applications.