AKROCEAN Successfully Deploys Floating LiDAR System for REE’s Nam Bo 3 Offshore Wind Project

AKROCEAN, Phúc Anh and REE collaborate on an offshore wind measurement campaign for the Nam Bo 3 project.

The deployment was carried out in collaboration with REE Corporation, AKROCEAN SAS, and Phúc Anh JSC, following more than three months of technical, logistical and operational preparations. The Floating LiDAR system has now been positioned offshore and is ready to begin data acquisition.

Nam Bo 3 is a large-scale offshore wind project being developed by REE, with a planned capacity of 500 MW. The project is aligned with Vietnam’s strategy for renewable energy development under the Power Development Plan VIII (PDP8).

Offshore Wind Measurement: The Challenge Goes Beyond the Measurement Equipment

According to AKROCEAN’s representative in Vietnam, offshore wind data collection presents significantly more demanding requirements than onshore wind measurement campaigns.

“Onshore, the challenge is primarily to position the measurement equipment appropriately and maintain measurement quality. Offshore, however, the measurement environment itself becomes a technical challenge.”

Onshore measurement systems, such as meteorological masts (met masts) or ground-based LiDAR, can be installed at relatively stable locations. In contrast, a Floating LiDAR system must operate continuously at sea, where waves, wind, currents and tides are constantly changing.

This requires the system not only to provide accurate measurements, but also to maintain stability and data availability under highly variable offshore conditions. This is also why selecting a capable and experienced measurement provider is an important consideration for offshore wind projects,” the AKROCEAN representative in Vietnam added.

High-quality wind data is one of the key inputs for wind resource assessment, energy yield analysis and uncertainty reduction throughout project development, supporting developers in making appropriate technical, investment and project planning decisions.

AKROCEAN’s Project Manager checks the Floating LiDAR system before offshore deployment.

Technology Validated Through Offshore Deployment Experience

AKROCEAN SAS is a French company founded in 2017, specializing in providing Ocean Data as a Service for offshore projects worldwide.

One of AKROCEAN’s key technology platforms is the WINDSEA Floating LiDAR system. The system has achieved Stage 3 - the highest level of commercial maturity in the Carbon Trust Floating LiDAR Roadmap, following its development, validation and deployment across multiple measurement campaigns.

Achieving Stage 3 demonstrates that the WINDSEA system has met the criteria for measurement accuracy and data availability under the Carbon Trust assessment framework, through validation against an appropriate reference system. This is an important factor for offshore wind projects, where measurement systems need to operate reliably over extended periods and provide robust data to support wind resource assessment and project development decisions.

The Floating LiDAR system is ready for offshore deployment.

Throughout its development, AKROCEAN has deployed projects across multiple regions, from Asia to Europe, working with leading names in the energy and offshore wind sectors, including COP, Ørsted, METEO FRANCE, EDF, KEPCO, KREDO, and other partners.

This international experience provides a strong foundation for AKROCEAN to bring its Ocean Data as a Service solution to the Vietnamese market, with the aim of providing high-quality and reliable wind and ocean data to support the development of offshore wind projects.

A First Milestone for AKROCEAN in Vietnam

The successful deployment of the Floating LiDAR system for REE marks an important milestone for AKROCEAN in Vietnam, while also opening a new chapter of collaboration between the French technology company and one of Vietnam’s active developers in the offshore renewable energy sector.

AKROCEAN Floating LiDAR buoy successfully deployed at sea

With Vietnam’s significant offshore wind potential, the country is facing an increasing need for high-quality, accurate and reliable wind and marine datasets to support project development.

Building on its international deployment experience and the commercial maturity of its Floating LiDAR technology under the Carbon Trust Roadmap, AKROCEAN looks forward to continuing to support developers in Vietnam by providing Ocean Data as a Service - a key data foundation for the assessment, design and development of future offshore energy projects./.