EURO1k More Powerful Than Ever

EURO1k users now have access to even more detailed and reliable weather data. We increased the model’s native temporal resolution from 20 to 15 minutes and extended its lead time from 48 to 72 hours, all while maintaining its unique 1 km spatial resolution.

Capturing Weather Variability Even Better: Four Time Steps Per Hour

Higher temporal resolution means greater detail and better insights for industries where accurate and timely weather data is critical.

By increasing EURO1k’s native temporal resolution from 20 minutes to 15 minutes, Meteomatics sets yet a new standard in weather modeling. Five minutes may not seem like much, but over the course of an hour, it means delivering four forecast values instead of three — a 33% increase in granularity!

As illustrated in the plots below, higher temporal resolution significantly enhances the ability to capture weather variability in greater detail.

Preparing for 15-Minute Power Trading in Europe

Currently, European day-ahead energy trading uses 60-minute intervals. Starting in January 2025, markets will switch to 15-minute intervals, as approved by the EU’s energy regulator ACER. This change is designed to handle the growing use of renewable energy and make energy trading more flexible.

With its 15-minute forecasts, EURO1k is ready to support this transition, offering the precision needed for the new trading structure.

Load Management: The Role of 15-Minute Intervals in Energy Pricing

Energy use is measured in kilowatts and calculated as an average over specific time intervals, typically 15 minutes. During peak demand, energy suppliers charge based on the highest recorded average consumption in these intervals.

EURO1k’s 15-minute temporal resolution is particularly relevant here, as it provides the high-frequency, precise weather data needed to predict fluctuations in energy production and consumption. By delivering accurate forecasts aligned with the same 15-minute billing intervals, EURO1k helps businesses anticipate demand spikes and optimize their energy use.

More Efficient Mid-Term Planning: 72-Hour Lead Time

While 48-hour forecasts are ideal for short-term decisions, 72-hour forecasts offer a broader perspective for mid-term planning. They help identify trends that could affect energy prices and market positions beyond the usual 24-48 hour trading window, effectively spanning weekends too.

Another key advantage of a 72-hour forecast is helping operators prepare for extreme weather. Knowing about a storm three days in advance allows them to strengthen infrastructure, organize resources, and plan for possible outages. This reduces disruptions and speeds up recovery.

We upgraded our high-performance computing cluster to provide the additional power needed to enhance EURO1k’s temporal resolution and extend its lead time.

This upgrade is a key part of our collaboration with the Norwegian Research Centre (NORCE). As part of the project, Meteomatics will deploy 30 Meteodrones across Norway, using EURO1k to process the large volume of data from the Meteodrones, improving weather forecasts and supporting Scandinavia’s transition to renewable energy. The enhanced capabilities of EURO1k will benefit not only Scandinavia but all of Europe.