Meteorology and renewable energy go hand in hand. This is an indisputable fact whose importance is growing as the energy transition progresses.
Two of the main sources of renewable energy generation are the sun and wind. However, to maximize your efficiency and production, accurate and reliable weather data is crucial.
In this article, we are going to dive into the relevance of weather data and local observations for renewable energy production, and how Arantec can help you.
Why is it that when we talk about meteorology and renewable energy we have to take into account the weather?
Meteorology is the science that studies atmospheric weather. That is, the phenomena that occur in the atmosphere and their causes.
In the energy sector, meteorological services are essential for making informed decisions in day-to-day operations and long-term strategic planning.
And in this decision making, the availability of reliable and accurate data is key because it makes it possible:
- analyze the impact of weather on energy demand and consumption;
- forecast the effect of weather on energy production;
- to anticipate the effect of the weather on the electrical infrastructure;
- assessing the suitability of sites for new generation facilities, and
- accelerate the energy transition.
The importance of local weather data
The meteorological models used in the energy sector are fed by different sources of information: satellites, radar observations, airplanes, etc. And yes, also automatic weather stations like the ones we deploy at Arantec.
But when we look at the combination of meteorology and renewable energy, local meteorological data take on special importance.
This aspect can be appreciated when we analyze, for example, the possibilities of cities as spaces for the generation of renewable energy.
It is essential to understand the impact of urban geometry on meteorological variables. And not only to take advantage of the potential of the sun or wind for the building’s own self-consumption, but also for its design, making it possible to introduce passive heating and cooling systems to save energy (1, 2).
The relationship between meteorology and renewable energy is of particular interest to you if you are…
an operator of renewable energy facilities. In this case, weather data will help you match supply and demand.
But there are also other profiles that may require meteorological data for renewable energy production:
- Installers of solar energy and wind farms, who need to identify suitable locations and require accurate and detailed meteorological data in order to study the feasibility and performance of the projects.
- Research teams that seek to understand the interaction between meteorology and clean energy generation and use meteorological data to perform analyses and model future scenarios.
- Public administration, which may require meteorological data to make informed decisions, monitor compliance with regulations and promote sustainable development.
- Renewable energy consulting firms to perform feasibility analysis, resource assessment and production optimization.
- Manufacturers of renewable energy technologies, which may require data to improve the design and efficiency of their products, as well as to provide monitoring and maintenance services.
Arantec as a provider of weather data for solar and wind energy
Weather monitoring solutions are particularly suitable for collecting useful information for renewable energy generation.
Our automatic weather stations can measure, for example,
- solar radiation;
- wind speed and direction;
- rainfall, or
- temperature.
We also have sensors to measure air quality. This option is very useful, for example, to evaluate the incidence of Saharan intrusions on the performance of solar panels.
Our solutions are deployed in renewable energy infrastructures such as the reversible hydroelectric power plant of Aguayo (Cantabria) operated by Repsol, a company that attaches special value to the analysis of energy big data.
Maintenance work at Aguayo weather station
Do you need weather data? Contact us and find out how our automatic weather stations and monitoring systems can enhance your solar and wind energy projects.
Thanks to the solutions we will provide you with, you will be able to obtain accurate and reliable data and contribute to a sustainable and emission-free future.
Sources consulted
- (1) Abdollahzadeh, N. and Biloria, N. (2022) “Urban Microclimate and energy consumption: A multi-objective parametric urban design approach for dense subtropical cities”. Frontiers of Architectural Research, 11(3), pp. 453–465 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foar.2022.02.001.
- (2) Turkbeyler, E., Yao, R., & Day, T. (2011). Urban microclimates and renewable energy use in cities. Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings. https://doi.org/10.3384/ecp110573066 0/jmse10070936.
