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Utrecht 18 april 2008 – Ecofys, part of sustainable energy company Econcern, will deliver wind power forecasting for the coming 8 years to Growind. Today wind farm Growind, located in Eemshaven, was officially opened by Her Majesty Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands. The 63 MW wind farm will supply 54,000 households with green electricity. To optimize their trading profits, Growind asked Ecofys to supply them with high-quality wind power forecasts. Growind General manager Henk Hutting: “Using the Wind power Prediction Services of Ecofys enables Growind to optimize revenues from the electricity trade. I am glad we signed an 8 year contract, unusual in a business where 1 year contracts are standard.”

Since 2003, Ecofys has provided Wind power Prediction Services to wind farm owners and operators and power traders in several European countries. For example, Ecofys delivers Wind power Prediction Services for the 44 MW wind farm Koegorspolder, and several other wind farms onshore and offshore, in total several hundreds MW. Each day, clients receive one or more updated accurate day-ahead power forecasts. Each forecast provides specific detailed information for an individual wind farm or portfolio. This helps optimize trade and dispatch planning, minimizes imbalance costs and maximizes the profitability of wind power trading.

Ecofys offers Wind power Prediction Services together with Europe's leading independent weather business: Meteo Consult. Freerk Bisschop, Managing Director Ecofys explains: “Ecofys combines wind forecasts with site and park specific data to provide power predictions per wind turbine or portfolio. Monitoring data are used to constantly optimize software setting for maximum predictability and lowest imbalance cost. The wind forecast for the opening day shows an average power production of 32 MW for the 17 operational wind turbines (51 MW), so in all respects a good day for Growind.”  

Note for the editor

Ecofys (www.ecofys.com)

Ecofys is a leading knowledge and innovation company in the field of renewable energy, energy efficiency and climate change. It delivers research and service solutions from product development to implementation management. Ecofys' clients are energy companies, financials and corporate business, governments and local authorities, international institutions, project developers, housing associations, building companies and energy consumers around the world.

Ecofys is part of Econcern, whose mission is: ‘a sustainable energy supply for everyone’. Econcern, which employs around 1,000 professionals in 20 countries across the world, was ranked No. 234 in Europe’s top 500 listing of high growth, job-creating companies in 2007. Econcern is the winner of the European Business of the year Award 2008. Ad van Wijk, CEO Econcern, is the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year 2007 winner of The Netherlands and nominee for the World Entrepreneur of the Year Award 2008.

For more information, please contact:

Drs. Lies Mantingh-Louwers

Marketing & Communication Consultant

T:        + 31 30 283 38 32

E:        l.mantingh@ecofys.com