The future of wind forecasting and utility operations

To run the power system most efficiently and effectively, we must focus our attention on the system as a whole rather than on individual components - and this is true regardless of whether or not the system includes wind generation. As larger amounts of wind energy are added to our power systems, we must certainly be aware of the impacts of its variability on the system, but we must also keep in mind that our power systems are already designed to deal with substantial amounts of uncertainty and variability. By making proper use of wind forecasting and integrating it into our control rooms and our systems, we can facilitate the cost-effective use of wind energy as a mainstream component of the energy system.