Assessing Climate Change Effects on Wind Energy

April 2011:
The Department of Energy selected Vertum Partners to receive a competitive Small Business Innovation and Research award to develop innovative datasets and analysis tools focused on the effects of climate change on wind energy. Vertum Partners will develop a software tool that incorporates the effects of long-term changes in climate on wind energy production. This will allow wind farm project analysts and risk assessors the ability to plan for the benefits and risks of a changing climate. Specifically for the Renewable Energy Insurance market, we will develop future projection projects with 10-40 year risk-scenario generation. One of our key innovations is the use of regional-scale model output for more accurate prediction of wind power generation than would otherwise be possible using the current industry standard of short-term data from observations or global-scale models. Current assessments of the climate impact on wind power indicate a potential for changes on the order of 10% in the wind power produced. Since the infrastructure needed to carry power from wind turbines to the electrical grid is expensive, it is possible that taking into account expected changes in the wind power production forecasts could save many millions of dollars.

Feb. 2011:
Innovative climate software company partners with Institute of the Environment and Sustainability