WSI launches Windcast
ENVIRONMENT | WSI launches Windcast
Weather Services International (WSI), a trusted global weather solutions provider, announced the launch of WSI WindCast, a statistical forecasting system for the energy market, providing wind power and wind speed forecasts for wind farms anywhere in the world.
Developed in response to increased worldwide demand for wind power generation forecasting, WSI WindCast provides highly skillful hourly forecasts (up to seven per day) that include weather–related parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, atmospheric pressure and temperature, all at turbine height. It then uses these values in combination with additional techniques to deliver wind power forecasts up to seven days out.
"Wind power is rapidly becoming an important alternative energy source for the production of electricity. Energy traders, as well as wind farm operators, understand that the most critical meteorological aspect of wind power forecasting is the highly accurate prediction of wind speed at turbine height," said Ira Scharf, general manager of WSI's Energy and Risk Division. "WSI WindCast not only delivers expert measurement and prediction of wind speed, but also provides precise wind power forecasts as a result of its proven techniques."
Background
WSI WindCast is based on a proven forecasting model developed by WSI in 2004 to predict wind speed for wind farms across Europe, Asia and North America. In use since 2004 and consistently outperforming industry standard benchmarks, this wind speed model has been continually enhanced and currently forms the foundation of the WSI WindCast product.
Market
The use of wind power is growing by double digit percentages around the world. According to the Global Wind Energy Council: "…EU wind power [installations in Germany, France, Spain, Italy and the United Kingdom], according to… Platts PowerVision and EWEA, in 2007, made up 40 percent of total new power installations, representing the fastest growing power generating technology in Europe… The EU aimed to increase the share of electricity produced from renewable energy sources… to 21 percent by 2010…"
"…The U.S. wind energy industry shattered all previous records in 2007, installing 5,244 megawatts [MW] and expanding U.S. wind power generating capacity by 45 percent… new wind projects accounted for about 30 percent of the entire new power-producing capacity added in the U.S. in 2007, establishing wind power as a mainstream option for new electricity generation…"
"…China is the world's fastest growing wind energy market, with an average annual growth rate of 56 percent in the past seven years… Based on the current growth rates, the Chinese Renewable Energy Industry Association forecasts a capacity of around 50 GW by 2015…"
