IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 47

Sophisticated
weather
simulations are
making wind
power more
grid friendly
By sue ellen hauPT &
William P. mahoney

W

i n d e n e r g y. I t 's
clean. It's renewable. Its potential
is enormous. But to
draw energy from
the wind and send
it to people's homes reliably and efficiently,
you have to know when the wind will blow
and when it won't. When it stops or changes
rapidly, you have to be ready to substitute
power from another source. And because
such sources aren't always available at a
moment's notice, you need this information
many hours and even several days ahead.
None of this matters much if the wind supplies only a small percentage of the electricity going into the power grid. But several
countries have already gone far beyond
that, and more will soon, as wind is now
the fastest growing source of energy in the
world. Denmark already gets 28 percent of
its electrical power from the wind and has
at times drawn all of its electrical energy
from wind turbines. The wind is already
providing 20 percent or more of the electricity for several U.S. states, including Iowa,
Kansas, and South Dakota. Colorado, for
example, has at times obtained 60 percent
of its electric power from the wind. And
the United States as a whole will likely produce 20 percent of its electricity from wind
power within 15 years.
Even though they can't control the wind,
utilities in these regions are able to reliably manage wind power today and will
be able to do so even more efficiently in
the future. That's not because they have

SPECTRUM.IEEE.ORG

|

nORTh aMERICan

|

nOV 2015

|

47



http://SPECTRUM.IEEE.ORG

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Spectrum November, 2015

IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - Cover1
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - Cover2
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 1
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 2
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 3
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 4
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 5
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 6
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 7
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 8
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 9
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 10
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 11
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 12
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 13
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 14
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 15
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 16
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 17
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 18
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 19
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 20
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 21
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 22
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 23
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 24
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 25
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 26
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 27
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 28
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 29
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 30
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 31
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 32
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 33
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 34
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 35
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 36
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 37
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 38
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 39
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 40
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 41
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 42
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 43
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 44
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 45
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 46
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 47
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 48
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 49
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 50
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 51
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 52
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 53
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 54
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 55
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 56
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 57
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 58
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 59
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 60
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 61
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 62
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 63
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 64
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 65
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 66
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 67
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 68
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 69
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 70
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 71
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 72
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 73
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 74
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 75
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - 76
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - Cover3
IEEE Spectrum November, 2015 - Cover4
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1017
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0917
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0817
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0717
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0617
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0517
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0417
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0317
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0217
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0117
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1016
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0916
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0816
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0716
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0616
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0516
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0416
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0316
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0216
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0116
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1015
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0915
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0815
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0715
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0615
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0515
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0415
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0315
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0215
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0115
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1014
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0914
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0814
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0714
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0614
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0514
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0414
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0314
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0214
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0114
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1013
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0913
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0813
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0713
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0613
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0513
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0413
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0313
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0213
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0113
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1012
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0912
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0812
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0712
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0612
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0512
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0412
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0312
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0212
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0112
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1011
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0911
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0811
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0711
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0611
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0511
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0411
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0311
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0211
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0111
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1010
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0910
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0810
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0710
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0610
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0510
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0410
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0310
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0210
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0110
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1009
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0909
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0809
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0709
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0609
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0509
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0409
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0309
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0209
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0109
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1008
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0908
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0808
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0708
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0608
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0508
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0408
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0308
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0208
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0108
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1107
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_1007
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0907
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0807
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0707
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0607
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0507
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0407
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0307
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0207
https://www.nxtbook.com/nxtbooks/ieee/spectrum_na_0107
https://www.nxtbookmedia.com