ELECTRICITY GENERATION

There has been a transition in recent years to the greater use of environmentally friendly means of generating electricity. Apart from the wind and sun, there has been an increasing use of natural gas as a source.

The efficiency of gas-fired power stations is directly affected by the weather - the temperature and humidity of the air burnt with the gas has a direct impact on the fuel-to-output ratio.

Met Office services provide forecasts of the ambient air temperature and humidity out to three days and beyond. The forecasts take account of local conditions - including how waste heat from turbines, exhaust stacks, and cooling towers is recirculated within the power generation site itself.

The forecasts provide:

• hourly data available to T+36;
• three-hourly data available to T+72.

Parameters include:

• wind speed;
• wind direction;
• temperature;
• per cent humidity;
• pressure;
• gust speed.

The transmission of electricity entails the movement of power via high voltage networks from the generators across the Maltese Islands. Electricity distribution takes power from the transmission network and delivers it to the consumer via a host of local lower voltage networks.

Both sets of networks are affected by the weather, and those taking services from us are able to benefit by:

• Anticipating damage to networks
• Placing resources on standby for speedy consumer reconnection
• Improving reconnection rates, avoiding costly financial penalties
• Being able to predict and deal with poor loading and routeing issues
• Ensuring that local demand can be met - the amount of current a cable can carry is affected by its temperature

As the world's reserves of coal, oil, and gas begin to disappear, and with the drive to reduce emissions, energy markets worldwide are looking to renewable sources of power to fill the gaps.

Renewable energy is derived from a number of sources, all of which are very long lasting, if not inexhaustible. In the Maltese Islands the major sources are:

• wind (both on- and off-shore);
• sun (powering solar and photovoltaic generation);
• rainfall (driving hydro generation);
• the sea (providing generation through tidal and wave action);
• biomass (using easily replenished energy crops or waste products).

These sources are more than just affected by the weather - in many cases they are the weather.

For wind farms, we not only help to forecast energy output, but can also help understand where to build and position assets for maximum effect. Our services can help reduce risks inherent in the planning, construction and operational phases of such projects.

Click here for our 5-day weather forecast for Malta

PHONE 50043344 FOR ACCURATE WEATHER FORECASTS