Collaboration between IEA Wind Task 32 and CFARS – the Consortium for the Advancement of Remote Sensing – was a central theme in today’s CFARS general meeting.

Similarly to Task 32, CFARS works to enable the adoption of wind lidar but also considers the use of Sodar. It aims to build acceptance for the use of remote sensing for land-based wind energy by providing evidence and guidance to independent engineers and financiers.

CFARS is part of the technology transfer path for remote sensing that starts with research done with Task 32, is commercialised through CFARS, and ends with standardisation through groups like the IEC and MEASNET.

IEA Wind Task 32 and CFARS have been working together since the start of CFARS in 2016. Regular meetings and cross-membership help keep each group aligned. Recently CFARS has made significant efforts to assess turbulence intensity products from wind lidar, leveraging results from Task 32’s 2015 Expert Report on turbulence, and our many other open-access research products.

Task 32 and CFARS are both now developing new roadmaps for the next few years. It’s already clear that a key part of both groups’ activities will be close collaboration to enable the future adoption of wind lidar.

For more information about CFARS please contact Philippe Pontbriand at TransAlta. Find out more about Task 32 here.