Start-up challenge:
Efficient wind measurements campaigns for turbine assessment

How to make wind measurement in operating wind farms more efficient?

At PERSEO we are looking for wind measurement solutions that can reduce the time and cost of assessment campaigns for a large set of turbines.

As the world’s leading wind energy operator, Iberdrola has been a pioneer in renewable energies for over 20 years. With more than 400 wind farms under operation, Iberdrola’s onshore turbine fleet sums near of 23GW installed capacity and more than 15.000 wind turbines

Iberdrola routinely monitors the health and performance of the complete fleet on a turbine level but wants to step ahead to increase the understanding on how varying wind conditions across the fleet impact on turbine’s production. For this purpose, wind measurements close to every turbine are required. 

Current methods of wind measurement in operational farms do not allow testing a large number of turbines without incurring in high costs or in long measurement periods. The approaches using met masts or nacelle based lidars are costly if deployed in several different turbines in a farm or in several farms.

Description of the Challenge

Through PERSEO, Iberdrola’s start-up program, we are launching a Challenge in search of wind measurement equipment that can reduce the time and cost of a measurement campaign for a large set of turbines in a wind farm. The focus is on flexible and efficiently deployed devices that can optimize a measurement campaign in target turbines. 

Some aspects to consider: 

  • The solution may include traditional sensors like cup anemometers or sonic anemometers as well as state-of-the-art technologies like Lidar, since the focus here is on optimizing campaigns to measure upwind at several turbines in a farm. 

  • Measurements should include wind speed and wind direction. Measurements should be taken at a range within 4 rotor diameters of the turbine (at least). Other variable measurements would be welcome but are not strictly necessary. Solutions should ensure stable operation and guarantee that measurements are obtained at hub height (at least). 

    The solutions should be effectively deployed in several positions of the farm, or even being taken to other farms afterwards for another campaign. The measurements must be taken upwind of the turbine. 

    The solution may be able to fulfill a complete measurement campaign in several turbines, and therefore recording sufficient quality data to populate operational power curves, or at least to provide sufficient data to effectively correct other wind measurements.

Additionally, the following attributes would be essential:

  • Measurment reliability and accuracy.

  • Reduced investment and/or operational costs.

  • Ease of implementation, use, and minimal training if needed.

  • HSE (Health, Safety, and Environment) standards.

Start-up challenge Timeline

Start-up challenge:

Efficient wind measurements campaigns for turbine assessment

  • October
  • November
  • December
  • January

October

16 October

Launch of the challenge

Call for proposals

  • Icon Sending the applications received on a weekly basis
  • Icon Screening of proposals by business
  • Icon Interaction with an external supplier for doubt-solving

December

8 December

Closing date for proposals

December

9 December

Analysis and selection of winners

  • Icon Analysis of the proposals received on the basis of the information in the form and the evaluation criteria
  • Icon Clarification meetings with start-ups
  • Icon Shortlisting
  • Icon Selection of the winner
  • Icon Announcement of winners on Iberdrola.com and other media

January

20 January

End of analysis and selection of winners process

January

21 January

Start of definition of pilots and implementation process

  • Icon Definition of scope and location
  • Icon Offer preparation and issuing of the order
  • Icon Kick Off Meeting (KOM) and Proof of Concept (PoC) launch
  • Icon Analysis of results
  • Icon Investment analysis and trade relations

The prize

The prize will consist of a test agreement with PERSEO or another Iberdrola company covering the cost of a test at one of our onshore facilities in Spain, including all necessary technical assistance. The test will be defined according to the capabilities and requirements of the solution and will be tested against real data to fully evaluate the results. The project will be developed in collaboration with specialised technicians from Iberdrola Renovables.

If the trial or proof of concept is successful, Iberdrola may offer the winner the opportunity to scale the solution through commercial agreements. In addition, PERSEO may consider investing in the participating company and/or in the winning solution.

 Legal bases [PDF]

Solve your doubts about the challenge

What solutions are you looking for?

We are looking for wind measurement equipment that can reduce the time and cost for measurement campaigns in wind farms with a considerable number of turbines.

Why are Iberdrola and Perseo the right partners for my company?

Iberdrola is no stranger to working with startups and start-ups: in the last two years, the Group has launched more than 22 Start-up Challenges to address urgent issues in today's energy grids.
 
Working with Iberdrola presents a unique opportunity: winning this Challenge will reward you with the signing of a collaboration agreement for the development of a Proof of Concept (PoC). The PoC will be developed in collaboration with the technical specialists of Renewables. In addition, PERSEO covers the costs of the pilot activities and provides you with the necessary technical support, giving you access to infrastructures and real data to test your solution. In addition, PERSEO may consider investing in its solution.

What are the key benefits of the challenge for me?

  • Collaboration Agreement and Pilot Test: The prize for the winner consists of a collaboration and testing agreement with PERSEO or any other company of the Iberdrola group. The group will support the cost of the pilot activities.
  • Access to all areas: Iberdrola will provide the winner with all the necessary technical support, as well as a location and real data to test the solution. This includes access to equipment, equipment, infrastructure, high-tech sites, and shared workspaces.
  • Scale your technology: If the pilot test is successful, Iberdrola will be able to offer the winner the opportunity to scale the solution by adapting it through commercial agreements.
  • Investment: In addition, PERSEO will consider investing in the participating company and/or the winner of the challenge.

Can I submit more than one proposal?

You are welcome to submit more than one proposal, just be sure to submit a request form for each proposal.

When is the deadline to register?

The deadline for submitting applications for this challenge is December 8, 2024.

How will registrations be evaluated?

When evaluating its proposals, Iberdrola will consider, among others, the following value propositions:  

  • The maturity, reliability and scalability of the solution, including hardware (sensors) and software/algorithm for both equipment management and data processing to generate alerts.
  • Simplicity of installation (Plug&Play), maintenance and autonomy (low consumption/self-powered).
  • Integration with current tracking systems.
  • The total cost, both initial and recurring.

Solutions will be selected based on the evaluation criteria. The startups, entrepreneurs, and innovators who have joined the challenge the most will receive an email notification and will be invited to chat with the project's team of specialists. 

Who can participate in the challenge?

Entrepreneurs, start-ups, researchers, specialists and innovators able to scale up their solutions and negotiate partnerships and commercial contracts together with a company with global reach. 

For questions that aren't here or for more information, who should I contact?

Send an email directly to the following account: IberdrolaChallenge@iberdrola.es