WindLogics

In 1989, a company called Supercomputing Services and Engineering Systems, or SSESCO, was founded. Its business was complex: using powerful computers to model and visualize atmospheric science problems for clients like NASA and the Department of Energy. The core of the playbook was applying deep computational and meteorological expertise to understand the invisible forces of nature. This expertise found a powerful commercial application in the growing wind energy sector. The company, later renamed WindLogics, developed a niche in providing crucial data analytics. It researched historical wind patterns to forecast where wind power could be generated most efficiently, helping developers decide where to build their multi-million dollar wind farms. This was a classic "picks and shovels" play; as the wind industry grew, so did the need for WindLogics' intelligence to optimize project development and grid integration. A significant event occurred in September 2006 when FPL Energy, a major customer and one of the largest wind power owners, acquired WindLogics. This move was strategic for the acquirer, bringing WindLogics' forecasting and optimization capabilities in-house. For WindLogics, led by CEO Mark Ahlstrom, the acquisition provided access to a vast amount of proprietary wind farm data, a critical resource in a secretive industry. The company eventually became NextEra Analytics in 2019, expanding its focus from wind to broader energy industry challenges.