Renewables Talk: Climate Data To Strengthen Energy Planning And Grid Resilience

The National Centre of Meteorology hosted the Renewables Talk in Abu Dhabi with IRENA. The event coincided with the International Day of Clean Energy. It highlighted how weather and climate data support renewable energy planning. Speakers linked accurate forecasts to stronger infrastructure resilience.

Senior officials, scientists and energy specialists attended, representing climate, power and investment fields. Discussions examined how climate intelligence can improve project bankability, grid readiness and capital allocation. Participants linked these issues to global plans to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030.

Dr Abdulla Ahmed Al Mandous, President of the World Meteorological Organisation and Director-General of NCM, explained that energy planners need weather and climate inputs for system design. Dr. Al Mandous said growing dependence on renewables makes precise forecasting vital for production efficiency, supply reliability and safety during more frequent extreme weather.

According to Dr. Al Mandous, climate variability has become a direct influence on energy systems. NCM views raw observations as a first step. The centre aims to convert weather and climate data into energy intelligence that guides renewable site selection, strengthens early warning systems and shields critical infrastructure from events.

Dr. Al Mandous reported that 2024 was the hottest year recorded, while 2025 ranked third warmest. Rising temperatures have pushed global energy demand 4 percent above the long-term average. NCM linked this to electricity needs from data centres that support artificial intelligence applications, which place extra pressure on grids and resources.

Dr Nawal Al-Hosany, Permanent Representative of the United Arab Emirates to IRENA, said decision-makers must now translate weather and climate intelligence into daily operations and long-term investment choices. Dr Nawal Al-Hosany described how combining forecasting tools, artificial intelligence and renewable energy planning can support resilient grids and a dependable transition.

Francesco La Camera, Director-General of IRENA, noted that renewable energy systems operate directly with natural conditions. As installations spread at record speed worldwide, climate data becomes increasingly important. La Camera called for deeper cooperation between meteorological institutions and renewable developers to embed climate forecasting into planning, operations and maintenance strategies.

Speakers from NCM and IRENA underlined how their partnership can turn climate data into practical tools. Shared platforms are intended to refine solar and wind resource assessments, improve forecasting for generation and strengthen protection of transmission networks, substations and assets against storms, dust events and climate stresses.

The Renewables Talk programme included a panel bringing together experts from renewable energy companies and climate research institutes. After the discussions, delegates toured NCM facilities. The visit covered cloud seeding operations, earthquake monitoring systems and sustainable energy observation programmes that track atmospheric conditions relevant to future clean power projects.

NCM stated that hosting the event supports international efforts to accelerate renewable deployment and backs the objective of tripling global renewable capacity by 2030. The centre reaffirmed a commitment to convert climate data into actionable knowledge that improves energy security, guides infrastructure design and helps safeguard investments in clean power.

With inputs from WAM