Tracking down the roots: Energy meteorology
In 1983, one of the earliest focuses in the emerging field of energy meteorology was using models to fill data gaps, aiming to provide large-scale, detailed data on wind and solar energy impacts.
Foundation of the Energy Laboratory
In March 1982, the “Energielabor” ("Energy Laboratory") was inaugurated at the University of Oldenburg. Unique for its time, the building's year-round energy independence relied solely on photovoltaic modules, solar collectors, biogas, and a 25-metre-high wind turbine.
Early Research and Calculations
The working group "Physics of Renewable Energy Sources," led by Prof. Joachim Luther, had previously simulated and confirmed that this type of energy supply system was viable. This success allowed the team to pursue deeper research questions, such as whether large-scale renewable energy systems could be both reliable and secure on a national scale.
Challenges in Renewable Energy Research
- Initial research focused on measuring and modeling specific elements like energy converters and storage systems.
- It became evident that truly efficient renewable energy use required high-resolution wind and solar data, which conventional weather forecasts could not provide.
- There was a growing demand for methods to understand potential influences on fluctuating energy sources.
Establishment of Energy Meteorology
The field of energy meteorology was founded to address these challenges and develop solutions for integrating fluctuating renewable energy into larger supply systems.
"Can larger-scale energy supply systems based on renewable energy sources be reliable and secure? For example, for an entire country?"
Author's summary: Early energy meteorology laid the groundwork for reliable, high-resolution renewable energy data, enabling the integration of sustainable energy at scale.
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