GE Energy Joins Forces with WSI, a Member of the Weather Channel Companies, to Launch Forecasting Technology for Wind Farms

GE Energy Joins Forces with WSI, a Member of the Weather Channel Companies, to Launch Forecasting Technology for Wind Farms

Windpower 2009 -Booth 4148
CHICAGO--GE Energy and WSI Corporation, the global leader in weather information and a member of The Weather Channel Companies, are joining forces to launch more accurate forecasting tools for wind farm owner/operators and transmission/distribution providers.

GE Energy, the leading U.S. supplier of wind turbines, and WSI announced today at Windpower 2009 that they have formed an alliance. “This relationship brings together two technology platforms to further the science of wind forecasting and its use in wind farm operations,” said Victor Abate, vice president, renewables for GE Energy.

WSI Corporation is the world’s leading provider of weather-driven business solutions across industries that span media, aviation, energy trading, utilities and insurance. In its alliance with GE Energy, WSI will build upon its existing wind power and wind speed forecast capabilities to develop technology that provides more accurate forecasts for the wind power industry. The improved accuracy can assist in optimization of turbine performance, power production planning and wind energy transmission integration.

As part of the alliance, WSI and GE Energy will develop technology to collect real-time turbine and wind data, incorporate this data into proprietary forecast models, and provide customized forecast and operational guidance services. “The integration of timely, accurate weather forecasts with turbine operations can provide tools to help operators improve the efficiency of their wind farms,” explained Abate.

“This is an important time to be involved with wind energy and in helping to shape the future of our nation’s renewable energy agenda,” said Ira Scharf, general manager of WSI’s energy and risk division. “This alliance builds on our proven strength in wind forecasting and is a natural extension of our capabilities from traditional energy production and trading to cutting-edge renewable sources. We are excited to be teamed with GE Energy, the global leader in wind turbine and wind energy systems. Our combined efforts will lead to the creation of new and innovative solutions for forecasting and optimization of wind power generation and transmission.”

The alliance with WSI supports GE Energy’s ongoing commitment to help move the wind industry forward. “Wind power has become a mainstream energy option and will play an increasingly important role in helping the United States attain energy independence, while also meeting our environmental responsibilities,” said Abate.

Since entering the wind business in 2002, GE Energy has invested more than $850 million to improve wind turbine technology. Today, more than 12,000 GE-technology wind turbines are installed worldwide.

About WSI Corporation

WSI Corporation is the world’s leading provider of weather-driven business solutions for professionals in the energy, aviation, insurance and media markets, and multiple federal and state government agencies. WSI is a member of The Weather Channel Companies and is headquartered in Andover, Mass. with offices in Birmingham, England. The Weather Channel Companies are owned by a consortium made up of NBC Universal and private equity firms The Blackstone Group and Bain Capital. For more information, please visit us on the Web at www.wsi.com or call 877.WSI.Corp or +44 121 233 7600.

About GE Energy

GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world’s leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2008 revenue of $29.3 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE’s corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.

About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.

Contacts GE EnergyMilissa Rocker, +1 518-385-2381milissa.rocker@ge.comorMasto Public RelationsKen Darling or Howard Masto+1 518-786-6488kenneth.darling@ge.comhoward.masto@ge.comorWSI CorporationKristen Sullivan, +1 978-983-6607ksullivan@wsi.comorEditorial ContactBarbara Rudolph, +1 781-229-1811bjr@rudolphcommunications.com





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