How Copernicus geospatial data drives innovation in the energy sector

Geospatial data has driven improvements in a number of sectors, and energy is no exception. This data allows us to better understand our environment in order to promote sustainability, innovation and informed decision-making.

One of the main providers of open geospatial data is Copernicus, the European Union's Earth observation programme. Through a network of satellites called Sentinel and data from ground, sea and airborne sources, Copernicus provides geospatial information freely accessible through various platforms.

Although Copernicus data is useful in many areas, such as fighting climate change, urban planning or agriculture, in this article we will focus on its role in driving sustainability and energy efficiency. The availability of high quality open data fosters innovation in this sector by promoting the development of new tools and applications that improve energy management and use. Here are some examples.

Climate prediction to improve production

Geospatial data provide detailed information on weather conditions, air quality and other factors, which are essential for understanding and predicting environmental phenomena, such as storms or droughts, that affect energy production and distribution.

One example is this project which provides high-resolution wind forecasts to serve the oil and gas, aviation, shipping and defence sectors. It uses data from satellite observations and numerical models, including information on ocean currents, waves and sea surface temperature from the "Copernicus Marine Service". Thanks to its granularity, it can provide an accurate weather forecasting system at a very local scale, allowing a higher level of accuracy in the behaviour of extreme weather and climate phenomena.

Optimisation of resources

The data provided by Copernicus also allows the identification of the best locations for the installation of energy generation centres, such as solar and wind farms, by facilitating the analysis of factors such as solar radiation and wind speed. In addition, they help monitor the efficiency of these facilities, ensuring that they are operating at maximum capacity.

In this regard, a project has been developed to find the best site for a combined floating wind and wave energy system (i.e. based on wave motion). By obtaining both energies with a single platform, this solution saves space and reduces the impact on the ground, while improving efficiency. Wind and waves arrive at different times at the platform, so capturing both elements helps reduce variability and smoothes overall electricity production. Thanks to the Copernicus data (obtained from the Atlantic Service - Biscay Iberia Ireland - Ocean Wave Reanalysis), the provider of this situation was able to obtain separate components of wind and wave waves, which allowed a more complete understanding of the directionality of both elements. This work led to the selection of Biscay Marine Energy Platform (BiMEP). for the deployment of the device.

Another example is Mon Toit Solaire, an integrated web-based decision support system for the development of rooftop photovoltaic power generation. This tool simulates and calculates the energy potential of a PV project and provides users with reliable technical and financial information. It uses solar radiation data produced by the "Copernicus Atmospheric Monitoring Service", together with three-dimensional urban topographic data and simulations of tax incentives, energy costs and prices, allowing the return on investment to be calculated.

Environmental monitoring and impact assessment.

Geospatial information allows for improved environmental monitoring and accurate impact assessments in the energy sector. This data allows energy companies to identify environmental risks associated with their operations, design strategies to mitigate their impact and optimise their processes towards greater sustainability. In addition, they support environmental compliance by providing objective data-driven reporting, encouraging more responsible and environmentally friendly energy development.

Among the challenges posed by the conservation of ocean biodiversity, man-made underwater noise is recognised as a serious threat and is regulated at European level. In order to assess the impact on marine life of wind farms along the southern coast of France, this project uses high-resolution statistical sound maps, which provide a detailed view of coastal processes, with an hourly time frequency and a high spatial resolution of up to 1.8 km. In particular, they use information from the "Mediterranean Sea Physics Analysis and Forecasting" and "World Ocean Hourly Sea Surface Wind and Stress" services.

Emergency and environmental disaster management.

In disaster situations or extreme weather events, geospatial data can help quickly assess damage and coordinate emergency responses more efficiently.

They can also predict how spills will behave. This is the aim of the Marine Research Institute of the University of Klaipeda, which has developed a system for monitoring and forecasting chemical and microbiological pollution episodes using a high-resolution 3D operational hydrodynamic model. They use the Copernicus "Physical Analysis and Forecasts of the Baltic Sea". The model provides real-time, five-day forecasts of water currents, addressing the challenges posed by shallow waters and port areas. It aims to help manage pollution incidents, particularly in pollution-prone regions such as ports and oil terminals.

These examples highlight the usefulness of geospatial data, especially those provided by programmes such as Copernicus. The fact that companies and institutions can freely access this data is revolutionising the energy sector, contributing to a more efficient, sustainable and resilient system.