Energy
The interface between meteorology and energy covers a wide range of timescales. At the very shortest, we want to be certain our grid is resilient to weather extremes, such as hurricanes or flooding. On longer timescales, stretching from days ahead to months ahead, we want reliable forecasts to quantify likely bounds of renewable energy production and energy demand, so that excess requirements can be met as temperatures diverge from comfortable levels. On climate timescales, we use climate models to inform the planning and location of new renewable energy installations as well as to better understand pathways to net zero.
Featured case studies
Harnessing weather wisdom: pioneering insights for renewable energy planning
The burgeoning growth of variable renewables such as solar and wind energy has magnified the influence of climate uncertainty in energy system planning. Reading are offering innovative solutions at a range of timescales to tackle this challenge, supporting the renewable energy sector as they go. Leveraging historical data, we have demonstrated how reserve power systems, such as those used in telecommunications, can support the transition to low-carbon technologies, offering ‘surplus’ capacity during off-peak periods. We’ve also developed a comprehensive set of multi-decadal, hourly meteorological variables and weather-dependent power system components have been generated, which has become a valuable resource for understanding the impacts of climate variability and change on energy systems. Members of our energy research group have also improved seasonal forecasts of wind speed and solar irradiance, so that they now provide skilful predictions of seasonal mean wind and solar power generation. Our research has emphasized the critical need for integrating climate data in energy system modeling, informing decision-making and risk management. Read More>