Alternative Energy Press

Precision Wind, LLC of Las Cruces, New Mexico presented on the value of accuracy and service at the International Wind Forecast Techniques and Methodologies Workshop, July 24. The technical workshop for utilities and balancing authorities was sponsored by Bonneville Power Administration and the California Independent System Operator.

Addressing an audience of system operators and power schedulers, Robert G. Kelly, president of Precision Wind explained the company’s service-oriented approach to forecasting. Expanding on its platform of state-of-the-art forecasting technology, Precision Wind takes a client-centered, consultative approach to forecast service delivery.

“The forecast objectives of each client differ in important respects,” explains Mr. Kelly. Precision Wind customizes its forecast service to meet the business critical needs of its clients. Its forecasting service is customized to accommodate varying time horizons, varying accuracy requirements, and even weather-specific information differences such as need for accurate forecasting of daily highs and lows or advance warning of extreme weather events.

“Significant value is being lost today from the power produced by wind farms due to the disconnect that exists between forecast vendors and forecast users,” claims Mr. Kelly. “While our team of R&D scientists continues to improve the accuracy of Precision Wind’s forecasting methodology in all manner of complex wind regimes, we have another critically important team of engineers. Our client service team is dedicated to delivering accurate forecast information in the exact format and time interval required to maintain reliable, efficient operations,” explains Mr. Kelly. This consulting engagement team is designed to work side-by-side with both schedulers and management to develop protocols and procedures that remove much of the informal, guess-work that makes load balancing and grid management vary from one scheduler to another.

Drawing approximately one hundred scientists and engineers working on wind integration to Portland, Oregon, the workshop was an extremely productive industry-event. Focused on the operational challenges of integrating large scale wind into the electric grid, the workshop objectives included:

• Tools and practices for maintaining reliability as increasing levels of wind are integrated
• Leading wind forecasting approaches, methodologies and research
• Metrics and best practices for accurate wind energy forecasting
• Methods for reducing error in wind scheduling within the hour; next hour and a day ahead
• And additional related issues

Precision Wind’s Wind Resource Management Suite™ moves wind energy measurably forward toward meeting the integration goal of being a clean source of power that is as predictable and reliable as conventional supplies. Precision Wind’s forecasting and management tools, Precise Stream™, provide:

• Precision forecast capability from - 1 hr to 48 hrs
• 6 hour forecasts within 2.5-5.5% MAE
• Increased revenue through greater forecast accuracy
• Improved system reliability

To learn more about Precision Wind visit www.precisionwind.com.