http://www.newenergyworldnetwork.com/investor-news/renewable-energy-news/by-technology/wind/vestas-selects-ibm-technology-to-improve-turbine-placement.html

 

Danish wind energy developer Vestas has chosen IT giant IBM to supply data analytic software and systems to improve the placement of turbines for optimal energy output.

 

Vestas will utilise IBM Biglnsights software and a Firestorm supercomputer to study information such as weather reports, tidal phases, geospatial and sensor data, satellite images, deforestation maps and weather modelling research to pinpoint the ideal location for wind facilities. This analysis used to take weeks which the companies said can be reduced to less than one hour through the use of this technology.

After installation, Vestas engineers will use the equipment to predict the performance of a wind farm, analyze blade performance and determine the best time to conduct maintenance.

Lars Christian Christensen, vice president of plant citing and forecasting for Vestas Technology, said, 'Vestas turbines operate for decades and clients demand to know how much energy they will produce and what their return on investment will be before they are installed. Using IBM software and systems, we can now answer these questions quickly to identify new markets for wind energy and help our clients meet aggressive renewable energy goals.

Arvind Krishna, general manager of IBM information management, said, 'Vestas shows how large organisations can tap big data analytics and ever more powerful computers to make smarter business decisions that can substantially accelerate growth while tackling some of the world's most pressing issues. The ability for our clients to gain insights from any data, regardless of what type it is, how fast it is moving, or where it comes from, has the potential to transform entire industries.'

Earlier this month, Vestas won an order for turbines with a capacity of 101MW from US company Consumers Energy and a 178MW contract in Canada.