What Fulcrum3D does

Fulcrum3D is a privately held Australian company founded in 2011 that designs and manufactures proprietary remote sensing and data acquisition systems for the renewable energy industry. Headquartered in Sydney with wholly-owned operations in Hamburg, Germany and the United States, the company has built four integrated core products: the Fulcrum3D Sodar (an acoustic remote sensing device measuring 3D wind from 40m to 200m), CloudCAM (an all-sky camera system with 15-minute-ahead cloud and solar irradiance forecasting), DataVOLT (a high-speed remote data logger), and FlightDECK (a secure 24/7 online data portal). Products are validated to bankable standards by independent third parties including DNV GL, Parsons Brinckerhoff, Entura, and GL GH, enabling use of Fulcrum3D wind and solar data in project financing assessments.

Fulcrum3D's customer base spans wind and solar farm developers (Lacour/Clarke Creek, WestWind Energy, Genex Power, Pacific Hydro), mining and resources companies operating in remote areas (Rio Tinto, Australian Potash, QEM), green hydrogen project developers (Elixir Energy, Infinite Blue Energy, Province Resources), and government and research bodies (Economic Development Queensland, Desert Knowledge Australia). The company sells and rents its hardware directly through offices in Australia, Europe, and the United States and indirectly through a network of specialized renewable-energy distributors covering Chile, Brazil, China, Japan, Mexico, Spain, Turkey, India, and Oman. Revenue is generated through hardware sales and rentals, recurring annual subscriptions for FlightDECK data access and AEMO wind/solar forecasting (covering 1+ GW of NEM-connected generation by January 2021), and professional services including installation, commissioning, maintenance, and decommissioning of wind monitoring met masts.

Fulcrum3D operates as a 50/50 joint venture between Fulcrum Energy Pty Ltd and Orang-Utan Engineering Pty Ltd and has supplemented organic revenue with non-dilutive Australian government funding, including an AUD 800,700 Commercialisation Australia Early Stage Commercialisation grant in December 2012, an AUD 452,000 ARENA CloudCAM grant in 2014, and two ARENA short-term forecasting grants awarded in 2018. By mid-2020 Fulcrum3D reported operational monitoring on over 2 GW of utility-scale solar and pre-build resource monitoring on over 6 GW of wind and solar globally.

Name

Fulcrum3D

Legal name

Fulcrum3D Pty Ltd

Website

https://fulcrum3d.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2011

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Fulcrum3D designs and manufactures proprietary remote sensing hardware and data acquisition systems—including Sodar, CloudCAM, and DataVOLT—for wind and solar resource measurement, forecasting, and monitoring serving renewable energy developers, mining companies, and utilities globally.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Wind and Solar Resource Monitoring Equipment

NAICS

Search, Detection, Navigation, Guidance, Aeronautical, and Nautical System and Instrument Manufacturing (334511)

SIC

Search, Detection, Navagation, Guidance, Aeronautical Sys (3812)

akta.pro primary industry

Renewable Monitoring, Controls & SCADA Hardware Manufacturing (Sensors, RTUs, Meters) (EUAMAHAJ)

akta.pro secondary industry

Remote Sensing & Geospatial MRV (Satellite, Aerial, LiDAR, SAR) (EUABACAF)

Keywords

• Wind resource monitoring
• Solar forecasting systems
• Acoustic remote sensing
• Cloud detection technology
• Renewable energy measurement

Headquarters

HQ city

Sydney

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Technology or R&D, Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Hardware Sales (Sodar, CloudCAM, DataVOLT, Solar Monitoring Systems): Fulcrum3D manufactures and sells proprietary monitoring hardware including the Fulcrum3D Sodar, CloudCAM cloud detection system, DataVOLT high-speed data logger, and solar monitoring stations. Units are available for purchase or rental. The Sodar is designed and manufactured in Sydney, NSW, Australia. Hardware sales are complemented by optional add-on sensors and modules (cold climate packages, fuel cells, additional weather sensors).
2. Data Access Services (FlightDECK): Annual data access fee for FlightDECK portal providing 24/7 online access to all device data, equipment management, and data download capabilities. Data is collected, stored, and verified on Fulcrum3D's secure servers for client access. Annual subscription covers data retrieval, storage, and visualization.
3. Wind and Solar Forecasting Services: Precision wind and solar power generation forecasting for submission to AEMO (Australian Market Operator) for NEM-connected wind and solar generators. Forecasts enable generators to match estimates, reduce FCAS penalties, and improve dispatch. Forecasting services are delivered commercially using Fulcrum3D's proprietary forecasting technology incorporating CloudCAM and wind monitoring data.
4. Professional Services: Full-service offering including design, supply, installation, commissioning, monitoring, maintenance, and decommissioning of wind monitoring Met Masts and sensor systems. Services also include data analysis, technical consulting, and custom solution design for challenging monitoring requirements.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Fulcrum3D designs, manufactures and sells proprietary remote sensing hardware (SodarF3D for wind profiling, CloudCAM sky-imaging cameras for cloud detection, DataVOLT high-speed data loggers) integrated through the FlightDECK online data portal. The company also delivers precision wind and solar forecasting services for grid operators and renewable energy asset owners, and provides full-lifecycle professional services including installation, commissioning and maintenance of monitoring systems.

Product overview

Fulcrum3D offers an integrated platform of renewable energy monitoring products with four core offerings: Fulcrum3D Sodar (wind profiling using acoustic remote sensing), CloudCAM (cloud detection and forecasting with sky cameras), DataVOLT (high-speed data logger platform), and Solar Monitoring systems. These are unified through the FlightDECK online data portal for secure 24/7 data access. Add-on modules include Solar Forecast Module, Power Forecast Module, and Ramp Rate Control Module for CloudCAM; Cold Climate Package for Sodar; and Soiling Test Station for Solar Monitoring. The company also provides Wind Monitoring Met Masts, Noise Monitoring, and Wind/Solar Forecasting services. All products support integration with SCADA systems via Modbus and data export to third-party systems including Windographer.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SodarF3D: A portable sodar (Sonic Detection and Ranging) device for accurate, flexible, cost-effective wind monitoring up to 200m above ground level for the wind energy industry.
• CloudCAM
• DataVOLT
• FlightDECK

Products and services

• Fulcrum3D Sodar (SodarF3D) A portable Sodar (Sonic Detection and Ranging) device that measures 3D wind speed, direction and inflow angle from 40m to 200m above ground level using a proprietary compact-beam design with physically fixed beam angles. Validated by DNV GL for bankable wind energy assessments and used by wind farm developers for site prospecting, yield assessment and power curve verification.
• CloudCAM An all-sky camera system with fish-eye lens providing 360/180 degree sky coverage for cloud detection, measurement, and prediction of cloud movement and shadows up to 15 minutes in advance. Designed for solar energy operators to optimize power plant control and manage grid integration during variable cloud conditions.
• DataVOLT A high-speed data logger designed for fully remote operations, supporting sampling rates up to several hundred samples per second. Built-in modem for automatic data upload, GPS for security/tracking, and integrated solar power supply with 7+ days energy storage in an IP68 enclosure for harsh environments.
• FlightDECK Secure online portal providing 24/7 access to all data collected by Fulcrum3D monitoring systems. Supports project site setup, monitoring location management, real-time alarm review, data download in multiple formats, and equipment configuration, secured in accordance with W3C standards.
• Solar Monitoring Comprehensive solar resource monitoring system based on DataVOLT platform with pyranometers, temperature/humidity sensors, GPS, and optional sensors for measuring solar irradiance and weather parameters. Used for site assessment, performance monitoring, and financing of solar energy projects.
• Wind Monitoring Met Masts Conventional wind monitoring meteorological masts that can be designed, supplied, installed, commissioned, monitored, maintained and decommissioned. Connected to DataVOLT logger with various sensor options including cup anemometers, sonic anemometers, wind vanes, and environmental sensors.
• Noise Monitoring Integrated noise and weather monitoring system based on DataVOLT platform for wind farm compliance. Measures background noise levels coincidentally with wind speeds, rainfall, and other parameters. Fully automated for remote operation with solar power and automatic data retrieval.
• Wind and Solar Forecasting Precision forecasting technology for power generation in solar and wind energy production. Provides 5-minute forecasts to the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO) with demonstrated ability to reduce FCAS penalties. Used for dispatch on over 1 GW of NEM-connected generation.
• Environmental Monitoring Environmental monitoring systems and solutions for renewable energy, meteorology, land management and research. Based on the DataVOLT design with support for general weather monitoring, solar resource monitoring, and wind resource monitoring applications.

Quantifiable outcome

• DNV GL confirmed Fulcrum3D Sodar wind speed correlation R2 between 0.989 to 0.995, correlation slope from 0.989 to 1.005, and bias from -1.3 to 0.2% at a site in northern Spain
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers14 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration4 records

AI capability8 records

Feature4 records

Partnerships

17 partnerships are on record, tiered core, standard and key.

• Kipp & ZonencoreTechnology or IntegrationFulcrum3D partners with Kipp & Zonen, a manufacturer of solar radiation measurement instruments. The Kipp & Zonen SMP11 pyranometer enables real-time irradiance calibration and is an essential component of the CloudCAM system. Fulcrum3D is featured in Kipp & Zonen's newsletter highlighting this partnership.
• LatwindstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLatwind signed a reseller agreement to distribute Fulcrum3D SodarF3D in Chile. Latwind was established in 2006 to provide technical services to the Wind Energy industry in South America and became an agent of Natural Power to increase industry expertise and capability.
• Windtower TecnologiasstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWindtower Tecnologias agreed to sell the Fulcrum3D Sodar in Brazil. Windtower has strong experience in the Brazilian wind industry and adding Fulcrum3D's Sodar to its range of services was a significant step for both parties.
• Kintech EngineeringkeyChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorKintech Engineering, a Spanish company and international supplier of data acquisition systems and monitoring software for wind and solar measurement, signed a reseller agreement to distribute the Fulcrum3D SodarF3D. Through offices in Spain, Turkey, Mexico, USA, Chile, Brazil, China, and India, Kintech provides local services for Fulcrum3D products across these markets.
• Beijing EastrongstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBeijing Eastrong is a distribution partner for Fulcrum3D Sodar in China and Japan. They facilitated the first Fulcrum3D Sodar installations in Japan and represent Fulcrum3D at China Wind Power Conference.
• Fulcrum3D Europe GmbHcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorFulcrum3D established its European sales office and distribution centre as Fulcrum3D Europe GmbH in Hamburg, Germany. The office acts as service and sales centre for continental Europe, with Joachim Müller heading up the regional office.
• MMIS LLCstandardChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMMIS LLC is a sales and distribution contact for Fulcrum3D in Oman, managed by Mac Thomson. Represents Fulcrum3D products in the Oman market.
• EkisticakeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFulcrum3D worked with Ekistica on Desert Knowledge Australia's initiative to make high quality solar data freely available from four sites across the Northern Territory. This partnership enables the private sector, researchers, and general public to access renewable energy resource data.
• Genex PowerkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerGenex Power partnered with Fulcrum3D for demonstration of solar forecasting technology at Kidston Solar Farm as part of ARENA's short-term forecasting program. This project demonstrated Fulcrum3D's CloudCAM solar forecasting on an operating solar farm.
• Pacific HydrokeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerPacific Hydro partnered with Fulcrum3D for demonstration of wind forecasting technology at Clements Gap, Taralga, and Crowlands wind farms across three Australian states as part of ARENA's short-term forecasting program.
• Economic Development Queensland (EDQ)keyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEDQ partnered with Fulcrum3D on a novel government strategy to make solar and wind monitoring data publicly available for the first time. EDQ shares a live, downloadable dashboard of Fulcrum3D Sodar data at Salisbury Plains near Bowen, Queensland, showcasing product performance publicly.
• EpuronkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerEpuron, owner and operator of high penetration solar power stations with battery storage in Northern Territory, integrated Fulcrum3D CloudCAM into real-time control systems at Ti-Tree, Kalkarindji, and Lake-Nash solar plants. The partnership demonstrated CloudCAM's ability to reduce battery usage by ~30% and increase energy yield by 4-5%.
• ArupkeyStrategic or Co-development PartnerFulcrum3D partnered with Arup and the Western Australian Government on a project supporting Western Australia's green hydrogen industry. The project has significant economic upside and carbon emissions reduction potential for WA.
• EnturacoreTechnology or IntegrationEntura independently validated the Fulcrum3D SodarF3D at three deployments (one complex terrain, two simple locations). Entura's analysis found strong correlations, low bias, and acceptable availability. Entura released detailed validation reports and conducted a three-way competitor comparison.
• DNV GLcoreTechnology or IntegrationDNV GL independently verified the Fulcrum3D Sodar against met masts in Spain, Germany, and elsewhere. DNV GL approved the Fulcrum3D Sodar for bankable wind energy assessments, concluding the device may be used in quantitative sense with reasonable error bars for wind energy assessments on benign to moderately complex terrain sites.
• Parsons BrinckerhoffcoreTechnology or IntegrationParsons Brinckerhoff was engaged to evaluate performance of three Fulcrum3D SodarF3D units in simple and complex terrains through detailed comparison with cup anemometer reference sources. Report showed low horizontal wind speed bias, strong R2 indicating excellent performance, and wind shear profiles strongly matching adjacent mast.
• GL GH (Garrad Hassan)coreTechnology or IntegrationGL GH (now part of DNV GL) independently assessed Fulcrum3D Sodar data sets covering both simple and complex terrain. Analysis found Fulcrum3D Sodar performance strong with mast and Sodar wind shear profiles in broad agreement. GL GH concluded performance was within expected limits for both terrain types.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• DTN: Large-scale weather, climate, and operational intelligence provider with renewable energy forecasting and asset management solutions. Competes with Fulcrum3D's forecasting services and overlaps with operational monitoring for utility-scale wind and solar operators.

Direct peers

• Vaisala: Global leader in environmental and industrial measurement, including wind resource assessment instruments (Triton Wind Lidar), solar resource monitoring, and weather observation systems. Directly competes with Fulcrum3D in wind/solar resource measurement and is the most established incumbent in the category.
• Leosphere (a Vaisala company): Wind Lidar manufacturer whose products are the primary alternative to Fulcrum3D's Sodar for hub-height wind measurement in bankable resource assessments. Competes head-to-head in the same wind developer customer segment with global commercial reach.
• ZephIR Lidar: Specialist in continuous-wave wind Lidar for wind resource assessment, power performance verification, and operational wind farm monitoring. Direct competitor to Fulcrum3D Sodar with a comparable customer base of wind developers and financiers.
• NRG Systems: Supplies wind measurement equipment (including Lidar platforms), solar resource measurement systems, and data services to the global wind and solar industry. Highly comparable product portfolio and customer overlap with Fulcrum3D.
• Campbell Scientific: Designs and manufactures data loggers, environmental sensors, and measurement systems used in wind resource assessment, solar monitoring, and environmental research. Overlaps directly with Fulcrum3D's DataVOLT logger and overall monitoring stack.

Regional players

• ROMO Wind: Danish wind measurement consultancy deploying remote sensing devices for European wind farm developers. Comparable in product/service mix to Fulcrum3D but focused primarily on Northern European markets.
• AQSystem: Swedish provider of wind measurement services including Sodar and Lidar deployment, resource assessment, and forecasting. Directly comparable offering for European wind developers, with geographic overlap through Fulcrum3D's Hamburg office.

Emerging players

• Reuniwatt: Solar nowcasting and forecasting provider using sky-imaging technology, overlapping with Fulcrum3D's CloudCAM offering for cloud detection and short-term PV forecasting in European and emerging markets.

Others

• Kintech Engineering: Spanish data acquisition and wind/solar monitoring software supplier which is both a Fulcrum3D distributor and a partial competitor with its own monitoring software stack. Provides a useful benchmark for European wind/solar monitoring peers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Fulcrum3D
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/fulcrum3d

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Fulcrum3D