ZephIR - Case study 3 - Meridian Energy - New Zealand

Meridian Energy generates electricity from 100% renewable resources with a portfolio of hydro and wind generation. In developing wind projects such as West Wind in Wellington and Te Uku near Hamilton it was crucial to obtain wind data quickly and in difficult terrain - erecting hub height meteorological masts was not feasible in all locations that were identified as requiring wind measurements so they began looking for a new methodology.



Meridian purchased one of the first production ZephIR systems back in 2005 and followed this by purchasing a further second system in 2008.

Paul Botha, Wind Technical Consultant at Meridian, explains how ZephIR is used across sites in New Zealand. “Our ZephIR’s are extremely valuable in measuring from short masts at around 30m upto hub height at around 90m. Short tilt-up masts are cheap to install and ZephIR can be placed next to the mast for periods of approximately 6 weeks to obtain good hub height measurements. We can also use ZephIR for micro-siting around a large site, returning to the mast as a reference point.”

In addition, Meridian are able to assess wind flow with ZephIR where access is difficult and terrain conditions mean a guyed mast may not be able to be installed. Botha notes “We measure wind shear across the entire rotor disk notably up to 130m, and can understand other wind characteristics such as inflow angle at turbine locations in complex terrain. We have also used ZephIR to provide a qualitative turbulence intensity assessment, measuring fluctuations in wind direction and eddies.”

Dougal McQueen, Research Associate at Meridian, has much field deployment experience having operated ZephIR’s for the past four years. “It takes me less than an hour to install our ZephIR and begin measurements at height. The reliability of the units themselves has been good and the casing’s composite plastic structure is extremely tough and well suited to the environment and rugged terrain here in NZ. ZephIR gives us better confidence than ever before that conditions at potential wind farm sites are acceptable.”