Garden State Offshore Energy to Install SeaZephIR Wind Resource Measurement Equipment

Garden State Offshore Energy has unveiled its plans to set up its SeaZephIR wind resource measurement equipment. It is a floating type of mobile platform with an incorporated ZephIR LIDAR system energized by solar and wind energy. The proposal to set up the platform has received approval from the Board of Public Utilities, New Jersey.

The company has spent a considerable amount of money in the development of the technology and is currently moving ahead with the installations on orders from its board. The company is anticipated to install its equipment before the end of this year at its projected wind farm site located 20 miles away from the New Jersey Coast and commence the required tests. The SeaZephIR will measure the wind sources, examine the water conditions and will additionally make a study on avian and marine life conditions. The data collected from the test site will be utilized to analyze the possible environmental impacts and will be utilized for further modifications required in the project. The 100-foot long buoy meant for the project was built by Natural Power a renewable energy consultancy located in Norway and has come to US. The company has decided to source the required parts and logistical support systems from the companies in New Jersey. GSOE will install the approved instruments over the buoy and locate it away from the coast of New Jersey by the end of the year after receiving necessary clearances from the federal agencies.

Rob Gibbs, Vice President of GSOE, considers the receipt of approval from BPU and the deployment of the equipment as significant landmarks of the project. He called SeaZephIR as an innovative meteorological monitoring kit that can be incorporated with other monitoring equipments to provide comprehensive data at the wind farm site. He added that by deploying the cost-effective buoy-based technology and by dividing the cost of its investment the company has helped the state to save around $1 million on its planned rebate assistance and extended an opportunity for its timely usage.