Garrad Hassan currently forecast for approximately 30% of wind energy in Texas, USA. Texas is currently the highest ranking state in the United States for wind energy production, with a total installed capacity of 2,749 MW (AWEA, March 2007).
One of the main contributors to the installed capacity in Texas is Babcock & Brown with their four Sweetwater Farms totalling 550 MW. Garrad Hassan are now contracted to supply their forecasting service to all four of Babcock & Brown’s Sweetwater wind farms. Garrad Hassan have been providing forecasts for the Sweetwater wind farms since 2005, where the GH Forecasts are used by the Sweetwater utlity off-takers to efficiently schedule the energy they deliver to the grid. For the recent addition of the Sweetwater IV wind farm, GH will be able to integrate the forecasting system with the GH SCADA system installed at the site, enhancing the forecast capabilities and providing ease of operation to the end user. David Barnes, Asset Manager – Wind at Babcock & Brown comments:“Providing accurate forecasts to our utility off-takers is critically important to our ongoing relationships with them and their ability to schedule energy into the ERCOT system. We have had positive results using the GH Forecaster product and look forward to even better results once connected to our new GH SCADA system currently being deployed throughout the four project phases. The accuracy of the system and the support we receive from GH have been the key factors in our decision to use the product.” GH Forecaster currently supplies short term forecasting to seven (7) countries worldwide. This service attracts clients such as Airtricity, Babcock & Brown, Centrica plc., Falck Renewables and many more. Recent GH Forecaster projects include the contract to supply all of Greece with its forecasting service, for the next three years. Benjamin Bell, President & CEO of Garrad Hassan America Inc., comments on the Sweetwater IV contract and Garrad Hassan’s strength in the industry:“This is a landmark achievement for the GH Forecasting team. We now forecast for over 2 GW of wind power worldwide and this figure is increasing rapidly. Garrad Hassan combines its extensive international experience and proven modelling methods to provide US clients with high quality forecasts. Short term forecasting makes wind energy more dispatchable; increasing the value and making it look more like conventional power generation. GH is leading the way with short term forecasting.“ Garrad Hassan offer independent expert advice on wind energy. With offices in 15 countries, they are the leading independent authority. GH has been Bank’s / Owner’s Engineer for over 15,000MW of operating projects and has completed resource assessment of over 50,000MW. For manufacturers, GH services include design and analysis of wind turbines, components, control systems, as well as certification support and on-site measurements.
GH supplies the following products: GH Forecaster: providing short term power forecasts for wind farms; GH WindFarmer: the validated wind farm design software; GH Bladed: the wind turbine performance and loading software; GH SCADA: the universal wind farm and portfolio management system. For more information Garrad Hassan America can be reached via email
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or by phone 858-451-7013. 
