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VANCOUVER,
BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwire - Oct. 9, 2007) - NaiKun Wind Energy
Group Inc. ("NaiKun") (TSX VENTURE:NKW) announced today it
has installed a ZephIR LiDAR, a laser wind velocity measurement system,
at its offshore wind project site near the coast of Haida Gwaii (Queen
Charlotte Islands).
Developed by QinetiQ of the United Kingdom, the ZephIR LiDAR technology
provides a greater profile of wind resources than regular cup
anemometers because it measures wind speed, direction, turbulence and
shear at multiple heights.
Recognized as a leader in wind measurement technology, the ZephIR LiDAR
is relied upon at several research centres including Cener (Renewable
Energy Centre of Spain), the Greek Centre of Renewable Energy Sources,
the University of Massachusetts as well as the Danish National
Laboratory, Riso. Wind energy developers like Fred. Olsen Renewables
AS, Talisman Energy and Meridian Energy use the ZephIR LiDAR system to
assist in project development and aggregate wind resource data.
The NaiKun offshore wind project is located in an area known as the
Haida Energy Field (HEF) which has some of the strongest and most
consistent winds in Canada. NaiKun has access to more than 11 years of
wind data collected by Environment Canada at their meteorological
station at Rose Spit on Haida Gwaii. Prior to installation at the
offshore project site, a ZephIR LiDAR unit was operating onshore at the
Rose Spit Environment Canada wind measurement site to correlate the
existing wind anemometer data.
The ZephIR LiDAR system has been installed on the NaiKun Marine
Meteorological Station recently erected in Hecate Strait and will remain
operational throughout the five phases of the project. The first phase,
320 MW, is currently under development with construction expected to
commence in 2009.
"The LiDAR technology will improve our ability to profile the
resource by providing wind measurements within the entire area of a
turbine blade rotation; from base to hub height within seconds.
Traditional anemometers provide data, but only at one height and cannot
capture other wind characteristics, such as density or turbulence, like
the LiDAR system does," noted Ray Castelli, President and CEO of
NaiKun Wind Development.
"The difference in technology is dramatic, not unlike that between
an X-Ray and CT scan. Instead of a snapshot of the resource, using the
LiDAR we can gain a multi-dimensional understanding of the wind
resource and several characteristics at the project site. The data
collected will be used to optimize project design and layout of the
wind farm."
The LiDAR system measures the Doppler shift of laser radiation
scattered by atmospheric aerosols in order to provide wind speed and
direction at multiple heights up to 150 meters. It can log, store and
transmit collected data to remote sites. NaiKun retained German wind
analysis experts GL Wind Test to manage data collection and analysis.
"ZephIR is an innovative system with demonstrated versatility.
From the cutting edge fibre-based laser optics to the novel field
programmable gate array processing, QinetiQ's ZephIR system is the
world's leading remote sensing technology for wind measurement
campaigns," noted Bob England, Business Group Manager of Optronics
Products, QinetiQ. "A comprehensive design-for-manufacture program
has also ensured a robust and reliable design - essential in offshore
deployments."
Earlier this year, QinetiQ teamed with Natural Power, to provide a
route to market for the technology. Natural Power are a renewable
energy consultancy with offices across Canada, the UK and Europe,
providing technical & management services and advanced tools, such
as ZephIR and VENTOS CFD code, actively supporting more than 12,000 MW
of wind, wave and tidal projects across Europe, the US and Canada.
"Natural Power is proud to be working with NaiKun on this exciting
offshore wind energy project," commented Alex Woodward, Marketing
& Business Manager of Natural Power. "The deployment of ZephIR
is a real step forward in offshore wind measurement at a viable cost.
With a successful installation and initial operation, we are confident
the system will meet NaiKun's requirements over the coming years and
help shape the future of the industry for reliably collecting wind data
in remote locations."
More information about the ZephIR LiDAR is available at www.naturalpower.com/ZephIR.
NaiKun Wind Energy Group Inc. (TSX VENTURE:NKW) is a Vancouver-based
energy company that has traded on the TSX Venture Exchange (and its
predecessors) since 1967. Since 2000, the company has focused on
renewable energy. Its subsidiary, NaiKun Wind Development Inc., is
engaged in the development of a major offshore wind project off the
coast of British Columbia in an area known as the Haida Energy Field.
Interested parties are invited to visit the company's website at www.naikun.ca.
The TSX Venture Exchange does not accept responsibility for the
adequacy or accuracy of this release.
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