Vestas becomes Data Analytics Partner for Volvo Ocean Race

by Volvo Ocean Race on 2 Nov 2017 Vestas, a Danish company, is the largest supplier of wind turbines in the world, and has 38,000 monitored turbines, each one collecting valuable climate information.

Vestas has developed the industry’s most comprehensive climate library. Over 50 million atmospheric observations every day are processed at the world’s leading meteorological centres, and augmented using in-house state of the art weather models.

The climate library is used as valuable data input, applied throughout the process of designing, constructing and maintaining a wind park, unlocking optimization opportunities every step of the way. This is information will help the Race Management team for the event ahead of each leg.

Vestas will also contribute to the Volvo Ocean Race as part of a task force established to provide “new thinking” around the next generation of boat designs. Key focal areas include: Aerodynamics, Condition Monitoring and Predictive Maintenance.

“We are proud to be able to use Vestas capabilities in wind energy to join together with the Volvo Ocean Race by means of a Data Analytics Race Partnership,” said Anders Runevad, the CEO of Vestas Wind Systems A/S.

“It adds another dimension to our involvement with the race, and proves that wind energy and sailing are intrinsically linked, to the extent that historical data from more than 50 million sensors on over 38,000 monitored turbines can help us understand how seven Volvo Ocean 65 boats plot their courses on the 45,000 nautical mile route around the world.

“Vestas’ knowledge in manufacturing, commissioning, servicing wind turbines for almost 40 years will also allow us to work with Subject Matter Experts to provide input on the future of the race and the next generation of boats. We are looking forward to participating in this innovative dynamic and are excited to see the outcome.”

In addition to the Data Analytics partnership with the Volvo Ocean Race, Vestas is also a title sponsor of Vestas 11th Hour Racing, the winner of Leg 1 of the race.

“We are happy to have Vestas increase their partnership with the Volvo Ocean Race, from a team partner, to adding their expertise as a Data Analytics Partner for the event,” said Jordi Neves, Chief Digital Officer of the Volvo Ocean Race.

“Wind energy is as vital for their business, as it is to our sailors. Having access to analysis from the Vestas climate library is a unique opportunity to give more information to Race Control and our audience ahead of each leg.”

The Volvo Ocean Race 2017-18 started in Alicante, Spain on October 22, 2017 and takes seven of the best sailing teams in the world on the ultimate team test as they race over 45,000 nautical miles around the world.