German LiDARs Get a Lift to China

Cargolux, in cooperation with Globaltrans Internationale Logistik, has flown two shipments of measuring buoys from Luxembourg to China for the Zhangpu and Changle offshore wind projects.

The two buoys, designed by the German Fraunhofer IWES, will measure the wind speed in the designated locations up to a height of 200 meters from their position on the sea surface to allow precise calculation of the wind farms’ electricity yield, Cargolux said.

With 8.1 meters in length, a diameter of 2.55 meters and weight of around 5,800kg each, the buoys were transported by Globaltrans with special trailers from Bremerhaven in Germany to Luxembourg Airport and flown on board two Cargolux 747 freighters to Xiamen, China.

“To ensure safest transportation, the weight and complex dimensions of the buoys, with its very sensible electronic equipment, required the design and manufacture of special transport frames. In addition we were challenged by a very time sensitive shipment, not allowing us any complications or delays. Therefore, we have decided to use Cargolux’s 747 Freighters to Xiamen, offering us shoring expertise, long-standing experience and tailor-made solutions for heavy or outsized shipments,” said Kay Uwe Gretsch, CEO at Globaltrans Germany.

Titan Technologies Corporation ordered the two buoys in July, and, according to Cargolux, this is the first time that China is using the so-called Floating LiDAR systems for an offshore wind-measuring campaign.

The Zhangpu and Changle offshore wind farms, located off the coast of China’s Fujian province, have a combined capacity of 4GW, Fraunhofer IWES said.

The two wind farms are being developed by the China Three Gorges Corporation (CTG).