Wind Today

Somerville, MA –- The first Triton sonic wind profiler—a new tool for sodar-based wind assessment—was shipped Mar. 31, and more than 15 additional units will ship to customers over the next two months.

All of the beta customers who participated in Second Wind’s rigorous product testing program are also expected to keep the units they have purchased, Second Wind said in announcing commercial availability of the product.

First announced at WINDPOWER 2007 last June, the Triton device was designed to address common challenges that have limited the use of sodar for wind resource assessment.

It captures accurate wind data up to 200 meters, in any weather, at any location, without being attended.

Readings look like anemometry results, with no expert analysis required.

Customers can access their Triton data in real time from any computer over the SkyServe satellite wind data service—available both for Triton and Second Wind data loggers.

Every 10 minutes, SkyServe transmits data from the Triton over the Globalstar satellite network.

It combines weather data with precise time and location stamps, using Global Positioning System (GPS) technology.

Triton has undergone a multi-site beta program in a variety of locations across the country including California, Massachusetts, Oregon, Texas, Vermont and Washington.

Each location allowed the Triton development team to study the device in different locations and under a variety of weather extremes—allowing them to verify and refine key features of the device.

The beta test demonstrated that the Triton performs better than previous sodar products –self-powered, portable and able to survive rough weather.

Second Wind CEO Walter Sass said that customers can feel very confident about Triton data, which correlates strongly with anemometer readings in side-by-side comparisons.

Customers can expect usable data readings at heights approaching 200 meters, with very strong results between 50 and 140 meters —which covers the blade sweep of most commercial wind turbines.

Second Wind provided its customers ongoing progress reports on beta tests through an electronic newsletter.

The newsletters included details about product features, a variety of data graphs, feature enhancements as they were developed and other details.

Each newsletter issue can be found on www.secondwind.com.

Paul F. Wendelgass of Competitive Power Ventures, Inc. is a beta customer of Second Wind and said the Triton has been functioning extremely well and reliably reporting the data.

“As a developer, I look at a site and it’s important to know the average wind speeds over a period of time and SkyServe provides that data on screen. I have the Triton placed next to a meteorological mast at a site in Kansas and am seeing really good data correlation between the two,” Wendelgass said. “I really like the SkyServe product – I am able to go online, download data and plot out graphs in real time to look at the data and see how my site is doing. Ultimately, I’d love to get to a point where I can just install Tritons at my sites, rather than putting up met masts – and I’m very hopeful.”

Continuous Product Improvement

Sass said that Second Wind used its beta program to make sure the unit met its exacting quality standards before announcing commercial availability.

Enhancements made during the beta test program included a second solar panel and electrical system improvements to ensure self-powered operation as well as retrofitting units with a noise dampening insulation.

“While we’ll continue working with beta customers to analyze data and continuously improve the product, commercial availability is an important milestone that reflects the successful development of an exciting new tool for wind assessment,” Sass said.

Second Wind opened its own Triton manufacturing operation in Somerville, MA and is preparing to fill orders with a lead time of one to three weeks. Packages, including power and satellite communications, start at $40,000. For more information, call Susan Giordano at 617 776-8520.

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• Second Wind

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