Tracking Down the Roots: Energy Meteorology
In 1983, energy meteorology emerged as a new field focused on model-based filling of data gaps to provide large-scale, time-resolved information on wind and solar energy influences.
The Energy Laboratory at University of Oldenburg
In March 1982, the “Energielabor” (Energy Laboratory) was established at the University of Oldenburg. The building was unique for its time, designed to be energy self-sufficient year-round solely through photovoltaic modules, solar collectors, biogas, and a 25-meter-high wind turbine.
Foundations of Energy Meteorology Research
The working group “Physics of Renewable Energy Sources,” led by Prof. Joachim Luther, had previously demonstrated through simulations that such an energy supply system could function effectively. These calculations proved accurate, allowing the researchers to explore deeper questions:
Can larger-scale energy supply systems based on renewable energy sources provide reliable and secure energy, for example, at a national level?
Development of the Field
Initially, Oldenburg's energy research concentrated on measuring and modeling specific components like energy converters and storage. However, it became clear that effective use of renewables required high-resolution wind and solar data unavailable from standard weather forecasts.
Moreover, there was an increasing demand for methods to describe and anticipate the variability of renewable energy sources. This need led to the establishment of energy meteorology as a dedicated research field aimed at developing solutions for these challenges.
Summary
Energy meteorology arose to address data gaps and variability challenges in renewable energy, enabling more reliable and secure large-scale energy systems.