Databases Reference
In-Depth Information
Turning climate into capital
Working with IBM, Vestas today is implementing a Big Data solution that is slicing weeks from data
processing time and helping staff more quickly and accurately predict weather patterns at potential
sites to increase turbine energy production. Data currently stored in its wind library comprises nearly
2.8 petabytes and includes more than 178 parameters, such as temperature, barometric pressure,
humidity, precipitation, wind direction, and wind velocity from the ground level up to 300 feet, along
with the company's own recorded historical data. Future additions for use in predictions include
global deforestation metrics, satellite images, historical metrics, geospatial data, and data on phases
of the moon and tides. Christensen states:
We could pose the questions before, but our previous systems were not able to deliver the answers,
or deliver the answers in the required timeframe. Now, if you give me the coordinates for your back-
yard, we can dive into our modeled wind libraries and provide you with precise data on the weather
over the past 11 years, thereby predicting future weather and delivering power production progno-
sis. We have the ability to scan larger areas and determine more quickly our current turbine cover-
age geographically and see if there are spots we need to cover with a type of turbine. We can also
assess information on how each turbine is operating and our potential risk at a site.
IBM
®
InfoSphere
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BigInsights software running on an IBM System x
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iDataPlex
®
system serves
as the core infrastructure to help Vestas manage and analyze weather and location data in ways that
were not previously possible. For example, the company can reduce the base resolution of its wind
data grids from a 17 × 17 mile area to a 1.8 × 1.8 mile area (about 3 × 3 kilmometers)—a nearly 90%
reduction that gives executives more immediate insight into potential locations. Christensen estimates
this capability can eliminate a month of development time for a site and enable customers to achieve
a ROI much earlier than anticipated. He continues:
IBM InfoSphere BigInsights helps us gain access to knowledge in a very efficient and extremely fast
way and enables us to use this knowledge to turn climate into capital. Before, it could take us three
weeks to get a response to some of our questions simply because we had to process a lot of data. We
expect that we can get answers for the same questions now in 15 minutes.
For customers, the detailed models mean greater business case certainty, quicker results, and
increased predictability and reliability on their investment. Christensen states:
Our customers need predictability and reliability, and that can only happen using systems like
InfoSphere BigInsights. We can give customers much better financial warrantees than we have been
able to in the past and can provide a solid business case that is on par with any other investment
that they may have.
Tackling Big Data challenges
Vestas and IBM worked together to implement IBM's InfoSphere BigInsights software, designed to
enable organizations to gain insight from information flows that are characterized by variety, velocity,
and volume. The solution combines open-source Apache Hadoop software with unique technologies
and capabilities from IBM to enable organizations to process very large data sets—breaking up the
