When lightning strikes

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Excerpt: Electric utilities, energy companies, and wind-farm operators will say that adverse weather can cost their operations a significant amount when it affects their infrastructure. Lightning is one weather phenomena that challenges wind-farm operations. Fortunately, recent products and software allow op …

Researchers slowly lift fog off longer-term wind forecasts

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Excerpt: Even in the 21st century, wind forecasts of a few hours are difficult. The inscrutable nature of wind forecasting was highlighted in a recent study by AWS Truepower and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. Their project, Windsense, was focused on improving wind-power-generation forecasts by d …

Wind energy performance map for Europe

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Excerpt: A recent map illustrates that for 2011, wind speeds were 5-10% above normal in northern Europe and up to 10% below normal in southern Europe. The data, collected by renewable energy assessment and forecasting company 3TIER,  shows departures from long-term mean wind speed with above normal area …

Weather operations now include Alberta

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Excerpt: MDA EarthSat Weather says its current wind-generation forecast product has now been expanded to include AESO (Alberta). Already providing accurate and reliable hourly forecasts for ERCOT, MISO, and BPA, PJM, CAISO and IESO, this web-based system uses state-of-the-art forecast methods to produce …

Renewable energy resources detailed online

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Excerpt: A new geospatial application developed by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) lets users easily and accurately map potential renewable energy resources in the U.S. The interactive tool, RE Atlas, is free to use and available online at http://maps.nrel.gov/ …

Forecasting service to provide for New England grid

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Excerpt: To manage wind generation in its real-time and day-ahead markets, the system operator for the New England area of the U.S., ISO New England Inc., has awarded GL Garrad Hassan a two-year contract to provide wind-power forecasting services to all wind in the ISO’s footprint, including generation wit …

Ups and Downs: Q3 wind resources vary around the globe

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Excerpt: A renewable energy consulting and information services firm released its quarterly analytical Wind Trends Bulletins. Each report independently reviews wind-resource performance in North America, Europe, and India based on AWS Truepower’s long-term simulated wind resource data set. A few highli …

Tracking where and when lightning strikes

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Excerpt: The developer of a global lightning detection network will provide access to its Global Lightning Dataset GLD360, which holds lightning data with peak current estimates, greater location accuracy, and improved polarity classification than previously available. The enhancements in data quality wi …

Automated hourly forecasts improved with human experience

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Excerpt: MDA EarthSat is now providing hourly weather forecasts through a revamped hourly interface system. This service provides a reference tool for individuals in industries such as wind, gas and electric utilities, and other load-monitoring tasks. In the system, ten forms of model guidance create a " …

Wind measurement system supports investments in wind energy

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Excerpt: The Vaisala WTS Wind Measurement System is for wind resource assessment, power curve measurement, and monitoring operational wind farms. It lets clients understand and manage the impact that weather has on operations and business, and as a result make better decisions. The measuring equipment …