The nature of weather and climate impacts in the energy sector

Abstract

The power sector's meteorological information needs are diverse and cover many different distinct applications and users. Recognising this diversity, it is important to understand the general nature of how weather and climate influence the energy sector and the implications they have for quantitative impact modelling. Using conceptual examples and illustrations from recent research, this chapter argues that the traditional 'transfer function' approach that is common to many industrial applications of weather and climate science-whereby weather can be directly mapped to an energy impact-is inadequate for many important power system applications (such as price forecasting and system operations and planning). The chapter concludes by arguing that a deeper understanding of how meteorological impacts in the energy sector are modelled is required.