NRG Systems Purchases Direct Detect Lidar Technology Developed by Pentalum

NRG Systems, a subsidiary of ESCO Technologies Inc., today announced that it has acquired a portfolio of advanced technology developed by Pentalum, an Israeli company that specialized in remote sensing solutions for wind measurement. Founded in 2009, Pentalum pioneered low-cost Lidar solutions that have been deployed by customers in the wind resource assessment, wind farm operations, forecasting, and research markets globally.

Pentalum’s principal innovation was their patented Direct Detect Lidar technology that is able to deliver the high precision and reliability of Lidar at a significantly lower cost compared to conventional Doppler Lidar technologies. Pentalum deployed this technology in their SpiDAR® Vertical Wind Profiler beginning in 2012 and it is now in use on five continents. NRG Systems’ President, Justin Wheating, commented, “NRG has played an active role in the global wind energy market for over three decades and we recognize the growing importance of Lidar in resource measurement and wind farm operations. Pentalum’s technology, when paired with NRG’s global sales and service capabilities, is a significant advantage for our customers, and a great new opportunity for customers who could not previously justify the high cost of Doppler Lidar solutions.”

In addition to its favorable pricepoint, SpiDAR is a rugged, market-proven product that measures wind with high reliability and accuracy at the range of heights required by wind farms all over the world. When coupled with NRG-equipped met towers, SpiDAR delivers excellent flexibility, performance, and cost efficiency.  

NRG Systems will work with its global partner network to offer sales, technical support and integrated services, such as remote power supply, making this product a truly complete solution for customers around the world. Wheating said, “Our customers have been asking us for a full service, integrated wind measurement solution that includes the latest tower based and remote sensing capabilities and we now have that for them.”

The company plans to begin shipping new SpiDAR units in early 2019 and will start offering complete service to existing SpiDAR customers in the coming weeks. NRG Systems will continue to work in close partnership with Leosphere to sell and support Leosphere’s Windcube Lidar in North America.