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Energy Industry

Challenges

The decarbonisation of the energy sector is important for climate change mitigation and a changing landscape in the climate and energy space. Consequently, there is a rapid demand for weather and climate information in the energy sector locally and globally.


Benefits

  • Provision of high-quality observation data
  • Forecasting shortwave radiation to support solar farm operators and utilities
  • Model development & provision of site-specific data

Products Available

Solar radiation data

In terms of observation data, we are able to monitor and maintain radiometric stations located in all climatological regions of South Africa. The parameters measured include direct normal irradiance, diffuse and global horizontal irradiance which are important for the energy sector

Forecasting shortwave radiation

There is increasing need for improvement in resources forecast quality. The current transition to clean energy supply requires improved resources forecast quality to support utilities operators and other service providers in the planning and dispatching of available energy resources.

Model development

There is a growing demand for location specific and/or user specific and more targeted meteorological model outputs. Developed models are used to provide data at any given site.

Direct Normal Irradiance Monitoring Index

Resource assessments to determine the suitability of different regions where solar radiometric stations are located for the installation of CSP technology.


 

1

 

Climate Change Reference Atlas (CCRA)

Provide a Hyperlink: https://www.weathersa.co.za/home/climatechangeatlas

https://www.weathersa.co.za/home/extremeclimateindices

 

Diagram, map

Description automatically generated

Additional Information

Data Type

NC, Shapefiles, Jpeg

File Format

Shapefiles, Jpeg

Frequency

5 years cycle

Thematic Application Area/ Target Market

·         All Sectors

Coverage

National, Provincial and municipality

Dissemination Channels

Product reports are available on the website. Raw data for further value add are available upon request and commercial terms

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

The Climate Change Reference Atlas provides a general impression of climate change scenarios compared to the present climate, at a high resolution of ~4 km. These scenarios are for various periods and emission scenarios and can assist with initial long-term planning for all climate-sensitive sectors. The information can serve as a preparatory phase for more in-depth future scenario research, relevant to a specific sector.

 

2

 

Parameter Return Reports (PRR)

This is a sample of the product for Wind

Additional Information

Data Type

Text

File Format

Report Excel / word

File Size

Small /Medium

Frequency

Upon request

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         All Sectors

·         Mostly construction and design

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Emails

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

The products can be used for the built industry for design purposes. Very useful for the engineering and insurance industry to determine the risk.

 

3

 

Climate Data (CD)

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

Text

File Format

MS Excel, MSWord, Pdf

File Size

Request dependant

Frequency

Upon request

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         All Sectors

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Email

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

Long-term analysis, understanding of weather and climate of the area, verification of weather conditions in the area.

 

4

 

Specialized Lightning Report (SLR)

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

Text or Excel

Data Formant

Report PDF or MSWord

File Size

Small /Medium

Frequency

Upon request

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         All sectors

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         E-mail

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

To accurately determine the position and strength of a ground strike. Used to validate insurance claims.

 

5

 

Lightning Fault Analysis Report (LFAR)

 

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

 

File Format

 

File Size

Small

Frequency

 

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         Lightning consultant firms

·         Insurance

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Digital Platform

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

The report is beneficial for users interested in analyzing the lightning strokes potentially responsible for causing damage. The report maps provide properties of all the lightning strokes that has a 99% confidence ellipse intersecting the area of interest.

 

6

 

Lightning Ground Flash Density (LGFD)

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

ASCII

File Format

 

File Size

Small

Frequency

Annually

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         Insurance

·         Lightning consultant firms

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Digital Platform

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

Provides the number of lightning flashes per square kilometre on average per year. The product is mainly used to determine lightning prone areas. Insurance companies use the products for risk assessments when setting premiums. It is also used by companies selling lightning protection systems and government department for planning purposes when rolling out lightning rod systems in lightning prone areas.

 

7

Product ID

WB42

Product Name

WB42 – Climate Statistics

Product Description

Summary of the 30-year climate of a specific location in tabular format

 

WB42 – Climate Statistics

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

File Format

 

Data Type

ASCII

File Size

Small

Frequency

 

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         Construction

·         Academia

·         Consulting firms

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Email

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

Long-term climate analysis provides an understanding of the climatology of a specific area.

 

8

 

GIS products

 

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

 

File Format

 

File Size

JPEG/GIS shapefiles

Frequency

Small to medium

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

Upon request

Coverage

·         All sectors

Dissemination Channels

South Africa

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

·         Email

 

 

 

9

 

Heat and Chill Units (H&C)

 

Provide a Hyperlink

 

 

 

 

Additional Information

Data Type

Maps, txt, xlsx

File Size

Small/Medium

Frequency

Hourly, daily

Thematic Application Area/Market

·        Agriculture

·        Biodiversity

·        Ecology

 

 

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Web Portal

·         E-mail

·         Mobile APP

·         Social media

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

·         Heat units are used to assess the suitability of a region for crop production; t o select suitable hybrids and varieties; estimate the growth-stages of crops, weeds, and life stages of insects; predict best timing of fertilizer or pesticide application; and to plan spacing of planting dates to produce separate harvest dates .

·         Chill units are used to predict the end of the dormancy period, to determine time for cultivation practices, and to identify potential growing locations.

 

10

 

Lightning Climatology (LC)

Chart

Description automatically generated

Chart, histogram

Description automatically generated

 

Additional Information

Data Type

Images can be provided in standard formats such as GIF, PNG, JPEG or in documents such as Word and PDF. An option is also available to provide data in text files, Excel, or shapefile format.

File Size

25 kb – 20+ mb dependent on format.

Frequency

Annual

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         Insurance

·         Lightning Protection

·         Energy

·         Construction

·         Forestry

·         Transportation

·         And other sectors concerned with lightning distributions.

 

Coverage

National and can be tailor-made at the provincial, municipality or point location level.

 

Dissemination Channels

Information is typically provided by email but can be provided by other dissemination channels as requested by clients.

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

Lightning climatological information provides important insights into the typical distribution and characteristics of lightning across South Africa which is extremely valuable for lightning protection standards, risk assessments, and planning.

 

11

 

Lightning Stroke Detection (LSD)

http://cyclone-web.saws.co.za/ncastweb/lightning_5mn.html

 

Additional Information

Data Type

ASCII

File Format

 

File Size

Small

Frequency

1 minute

Thematic Application Area/Target Market

·         DRR 

·         Insurance

·         Schools

·         Aviation

·         Sport and recreation

·         Mining

·         Forestry

·         Transportation

·         Energy

·         Construction

Coverage

South Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Web portal

·         Email

·         Mobile APP

·         Social media

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

The product provides gridded near-real-time lightning maps to monitor lightning activity anywhere in South Africa with the capability for clients to view the current location of lightning storm cells and the intensity thereof. This product can be used for decision making to stop activities when a storm approaches and to resume activities once the threat is over.

 

12

 

Short Range Solar Radiation Forecast (SRSRF)

Provide a Hyperlink

 

 

 

Additional Information

File Size

2 Mb

Frequency

1 x Day

Thematic Application Area/Market

·         Energy Sector

·         Small Solar Plant Operators

·         Households

Coverage

South Africa and Southern Africa

Dissemination Channels

·         Web Portal

·         Mobile APP

·         Social Media

Product Benefits/Impact to end – user

 

Assist in:

·         Efficient operation in the power grid and congestion management        

·         Power system operations including scheduling, dispatch, real-time balancing, and reserve requirements

·         Optimization of PV power systems