providing the highest quality in wind energy instrument calibration.

HISTORY

Since 1981, Otech has served as a pioneering leader in the global wind energy industry, providing:

  1. field services which include meteorological tower installations and wind turbine monitoring systems
  2. consulting services such as data management, data analysis and wind resource assessment
  3. wind anemometer calibration services through a vehicle test protocol. In 1988, Otech, along with other measurement authorities and academic institutions, has recognized a need for the standardization of anemometer calibration. Since 2001, Otech has solely focused on worldwide calibration services.

During the early years, Otech calibrated anemometers using an open-atmosphere, vehicle test program. Here, the anemometers were mounted on a sophisticated vehicle rack system and were calibrated against wind speed measurements from R.M. Young propeller anemometers. From 1988 to 2005, the vehicle calibration system had continuously improved to decrease vehicle and rack flow disturbances, while also increasing the number of tested anemometers.

Based on comparisons with wind tunnel facilities, the Otech vehicle test program proved to be a compatible method of anemometer calibration. However, the test process was weather dependent and involved uncontrolled variables. Thus, in 2005, anemometer calibration was transitioned into a weather-independent, wind-tunnel test program prepared in accordance with ASTM and IEC standards.

First Wind Tunnel 2005 (WT1C) Second Wind Tunnel 2007 (WT2B)

During the summer of 2007, both tunnels were places in side by side laboratories to improve the work flow.