Iberdrola’s renewable energy development arm in Brazil, Neoenergia, has deployed a floating Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) sensor for wind measurement in an area on the north coast of Rio de Janeiro.
The LiDAR system will collect data on wind and sea characteristics in an area located approximately 40 kilometres from the coast. Among other functions, the system can also collect information related to sea currents, waves, seawater, temperature, pressure, and humidity.
With LiDAR, Neoenergia will have access, via satellite, to specific reports on wind and sea conditions in the region, with data transmitted in real time over the internet, said the Brazilian utility company.
The equipment was transported from the Porto do Açu pier, in the municipality of São João da Barra (RJ), to the installation site on the high seas.
The work was carried out by Fugro BR, a company specialising in wind resources and ocean parameters measurement services.
Logistical support was provided by Prumo Logistica, who signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Neoenergia in 2022 for research related to green hydrogen and offshore wind projects in the region.
The news follows shortly after Neoenergia signed an MoU with the government of Rio de Janeiro to explore the development of offshore wind projects.
Neoenergia currently has 4 GW of installed generation capacity, 88 per cent of which is renewable energy.
The company is conducting studies to evaluate the feasibility of developing offshore wind projects in the states of Rio de Janeiro, Rio Grande do Sul, and Ceará.