As the world transition to renewable energies accelerates, weather and climatic knowledge are increasingly important to guarantee the reliability and resilience of energy systems and contribute to the planning of supply and demand for electricity. This is stated by the World Meteorological Organization, in a new report, published a few days before the International Climate Day is celebrated.
Fossil fuels are, by far, the ones that contribute the most to world climate change, since they represent more than 75 % of world emissions of greenhouse gases and almost 90 % of all carbon dioxide emissions.
As noted in the publication “2023 Year in Review: Climate-Driven Global Renewable Energy Potential Resources and Energy DemanD ”In order for the world to meet the objectives of tripling the capacity of renewable energies and double the energy efficiency from here to 2030 it is essential to have diversified energy sources that take into account climate information.
The report has been prepared jointly by the World Meteorological Organization (OMM), the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the Copernicus Climate Change Service (C3S), operated by the European Center for Middle Term Meteorological forecasts (ECMWF).
The data used to elaborate this analysis corresponds to 2023, the year in which the transition from an episode of the girl to an episode of El Niño, with the consequent alterations in key climatic variables for the energy sector such as wind speed, solar radiation, rainfall and temperature. It was also the warmest year that was recorded to date, a record that beat again, for the second time, last year.
Influence of the climate in demand
The climate exerts a direct influence on both the supply and in the demand for electricity, regardless of the renewable energy source of which it is either of solar energy in drier conditions than the average, of wind energy in regions whose conditions are altered by the passage of the girl to the child or of hydroelectric energy in a context with very fluctuating precipitation patterns, says the study.
For the World Meteorological Organization, integrating climatic knowledge into energy planning, in addition to a challenge constitutes an unprecedented opportunity to help anticipate seasonal demand peaks and reinforce the ability to adapt the infrastructure of the future, enhancing the reliability of electricity generation.
Energy Planning based on climatic data
The publication explains the possible applications of seasonal forecasts in that valuable energy planning and management instruments. Thanks to seasonal climatic forecasts, interested parties can anticipate fluctuations in supply and demand, optimize the operation of the network and enhance the resilience of the energy system. They also favor better preparation against extreme weathering episodes, guaranteeing energy safety and minimizing interruptions.
Diversified energy matrices – which combine wind, solar and hydroelectric energies with emerging technologies such as geothermal energy and energy storage systems – are essential to mitigate the effects of climate variability and climate change in renewable energy management and electricity generation with this type of energy sources.
The compilation and exhaustive exchange of energy data are essential to better understand the effects of climate variability on energy supply and demand. As explained in the report, opt for a strategy based on collaboration and the use of climatic data will help to advance more quickly towards a sustainable future with zero net emissions.
Naturgy raises its renewable energy production in Spain
Clean energy technologies produce much less carbon pollution than fossil fuels. During the past year, Naturgy contributed to the Spanish electrical system 10,797 GWh of renewable energy, which represents growth greater than 11% compared to the previous year. By technology, solar increased its production by 27%; Hydraulics, 15%; and wind, 6%. This amount is equivalent to the annual consumption of more than 3.2 million homes.
Thanks to the energy produced by these facilities, the emissions of polluting and greenhouse gases were reduced in more than six million tons. This emission reduction is equivalent to removing 2.55 million cars from a year or emissions that would avoid more than 662 million trees in a year.
Energy has 170 renewable facilities in operation in Spain, 13 of them launched for 2024. Of this figure, 96 are wind technology facilities, 24 photovoltaic plants and 50 hydroelectric plants.