Wind Forecasts by 3TIER Help Manitoba Hydro Minimize Power Scheduling Uncertainties

The signing of the contract with Manitoba Hydro means that 3TIER is now operationally forecasting more than 2,600 Megawatts (MW) of wind energy throughout North America, representing nearly one-third of all wind energy on the continent.

Manitoba Hydro will be using 3TIER's scientifically-based forecast suite to optimize power scheduling as it integrates electricity from the new 99 MW wind farm near St. Leon, Manitoba. The St. Leon Wind Energy Project, one of the largest wind farms in Canada, is managed by AirSource GP, a company owned jointly by Algonquin Power (St. Leon) Inc. and GreenWing Energy, Inc. It represents a new source of revenue for landowners and municipalities in Manitoba, and provides Manitoba Hydro with a renewable source to diversify its energy mix.

Wind is an inexhaustible, virtually free energy resource, but it is highly variable, which affects the integration of wind into an electricity generation and distribution grid. From an operational planning and power marketing standpoint, energy sources must be available when the wind is not blowing. 3TIER's forecasting suite allows Manitoba Hydro to secure the vital information it needs to make critical operational decisions, including better day-ahead capacity predictions.

"3TIER is helping us minimize the cost of wind integration," said Blaine Poff, manager, transmission services department for Manitoba Hydro. "Their forecast tools are an important piece of our risk mitigation strategy to minimize the uncertainty of scheduling. We are able to predict with more certainty how much power capacity the wind farm can provide hour-to-hour and day-to-day."

"Canada has a tremendous wind energy resource that is just beginning to be harnessed," said Dr. Pascal Storck, president of 3TIER. "We look forward to working with Manitoba Hydro and other utilities across Canada to more efficiently integrate wind energy into their overall energy mix."

About Manitoba Hydro
Manitoba Hydro is Manitoba's major energy utility, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba. The utility serves more than 500,000 electric customers throughout Manitoba and more than 250,000 gas customers in various communities throughout southern Manitoba. Virtually all electricity generated by the provincial Crown Corporation is from self-renewing water power. Manitoba Hydro is the major distributor of natural gas in the province. The corporation's capital assets-in-service at original cost exceed $10 billion, making it one of the largest energy and natural gas utilities in Canada. For more information, please visit www.hydro.mb.ca.

About 3TIER
3TIER provides project-scale, scientifically-based renewable energy forecast and assessment products and services to companies worldwide, and is currently the largest provider of these services in North America. Whether predicting the availability of renewable resources from one hour to 30 years in advance, 3TIER provides the most reliable and accurate data available for single or integrated resource projects - enabling companies to maximize operational efficiency and make effective and informed operational decisions. Founded in 1999 with offices in North and South America, Seattle-based 3TIER exclusively employs scientific and engineering experts who develop and manage sophisticated environmental prediction systems using advanced computing technologies and proprietary methodologies such as 3TIER cutting edge R3(TM) process. For more information, visit the 3TIER Web site at www.3tiergroup.com.