Climate and weather risk and hazard assessments by California’s gas utilities and the broader energy sector require high-quality historical weather observations that accurately represent local conditions. However, practitioners have faced substantial barriers to accessing consistent weather observations appropriate for use in energy systems modeling. Robust planning around historical extreme weather events often necessitates a large volume of data—both extensive point-based coverage and long observational records—across large, often topographically heterogeneous, regions. In addition, many utility planners and analysts are more comfortable relying on federally produced, quality-controlled observation data, which limits the number of reliable sources of historical data observations to fewer than 500 weather stations across western North America.
The Historical Observation Data Platform developed in this project addresses these underserved needs by elevating thousands of historical observations to best-in-class standards, thereby increasing the number of reliable, accurate, and long-duration records available to energy sector weather data users by an order of magnitude. By standardizing independently sourced networks into a consistent quality and format, this project provides, for example, 2.7 billion wind speed and 7.6 million surface radiation quality-controlled observations.
These station data are hosted through Cal-Adapt, an open-source, co-produced big data computation platform that provides these historical observations alongside future climate projections referenced by decisions issued by the California Public Utilities Commission for use in adaptation planning by California’s investor-owned gas and electric utilities. This Historical Observation Data Platform directly supports ongoing efforts in energy system operations and planning by acting as a foundational dataset for decision support, asset placement, energy sector resiliency, and renewable energy generation capacity need estimation. It also can serve as a vital localized western North American dataset for future downscaling efforts of global climate models for the variables and resolution (hourly, sub 3-km) required in energy sector applications.
Research described by this agreement was administered by CEC with ratepayer funds from the Electric Program Investment Charge (EPIC) under the auspices of the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). This agreement’s Final Report describes original, energy-related research that contributes to California’s Fifth Climate Change Assessment (Fifth Assessment). The Fifth Assessment comprises a broad portfolio of research and synthesis reports that address California-specific research needs and knowledge gaps related to climate change. To ensure scientific rigor, Fifth Assessment research was peer reviewed. This research effort was peer reviewed through an editorial board established for the Fifth Assessment, which also served (where applicable) to support appropriate representation of the practitioners and stakeholders to whom each report applies.
Report Information
CCCA5-CEC-Energy-PIR-19-006
Lead Authors: Victoria Ford, Ph.D. and Owen Doherty, Ph.D.
Coordinating Commission Agreement Manager: Mithra Moezzi, Ph.D.