Energy Task 06-04

1. Energy Task 06-04 Ellsworth LeDrew, Point of Contact, GEOSS Energy, Thierry Ranchin, Co-chair, Renewable Energy Community of Practice, Marion Schroedter-Homscheidt, Co-chair, Renewable Energy Community of Practice, Mark Ahlstrom, Co-Chair, GEOSS Wind Energy Community of Practice

2. GEOSS outcomes in the energy area will support: environmentally responsible and equitable energy management; better matching of energy supply and demand; reduction of risks to energy infrastructure; more accurate inventories of greenhouse gases and pollutants; and a better understanding of renewable energy potential.

3. Tasks • 1. Identify and invite appropriate experts in the fields of Energy and Earth observation (space and in-situ) to identify a set of priorities for GEO activities. • 2. Identify main energy sectors and activities requiring Earth observation data and products (space and in situ ) and identify, for each major energy sector, the Decision Support System(s) currently used for the management of energy production and distribution and requiring Earth information-derived information. • 3. Assess /update requirements and the status of existing DSS and identify gaps or requirements for improvements in terms of Earth observation data and products. • 4. Evaluate the current usage of existing EO data and products and identify gaps (quality, accuracy, time availability…) and needs for new/improved Earth observation data and systems.

4. Tasks (cont’d) • 5. Prepare a Plan of action to overcome these issues and fill identified gaps. • 6. Facilitate the dialogue between Earth observation information providers and DSS development departments of energy production and distribution companies through meetings and focused workshops. • 7. Advocate funding for the ongoing research and operational demonstration of the ensemble forecasting system applied to the energy sector.

5. Tasks (cont’d) • 8. Prepare and organize a major workshop late 2006/early 2007 with the following objectives: • 8.1. Review the enhanced capabilities offered by the new generation of observing systems, in particular, from space ( new generation of meteorological and environmental satellites) • 8.2. Assess the potential offered by new forecasting modeling techniques (such as the ensemble-based forecasts) for the management of energy production and distribution • 8.3. Prepare a Plan of actions for the next 5-10 years including proposals for the implementation of demonstration projects, modeling and research activities and recommendations to agencies sponsoring observing systems, such as a pilot project to provide ensemble forecasts utilizing the THORPEX TIGGE database • 9. Organize the GEO participation in key international events organized or sponsored by energy-related organizations.

6. Activities • (1) A group of 50 remote sensing specialists with direct interest in GEOSS has been identified as the IEEE Committee on Earth Observations User Interface Working Group. These members are part of a email distribution on EN-06-04 activities. This activity partially addresses work task (1). • (2) In collaboration with GeoSec, a subgroup of leaders in renewable and non-renewable energy has been invited to a working meeting in Geneva in August to prepare for the major meeting in 2007 identified in this document to develop a 10 year plan for renewable energy themes. This partially addresses work task (2) and (5). • (3) A Renewable Energy Committee has been created with a membership list, charter, and strategic plan. Key members will participate in the August Geneva meeting. The Wind Energy subgroup has made considerable progess in identification of opportunities and key milestones over the short term. This partially addresses work task (3).

7. Activities (cont’d) • (4) A review of the status of remote sensing input to energy issues has been made available to the GEOSS group as a NASA contract report. The two sections of the report by Zell and Engel-Cox (2006) are available at: • http://aiwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/esappdocs/evalreports/NASAEnergy.pdf • http://aiwg.gsfc.nasa.gov/esappdocs/evalreports/NASAEnergy2.pdf • This partiallyaddresses work task (4) • (5) We have been working with a multi-government Agency for sponsorship of the 2007 meeting on renewable energy for development of a 10-year plan. This partially addresses work task (5)

8. Activities (cont’d) • (6) A presentation of the GEOSS Energy Actitivies was made in May during the Plenary of the Special Session on Wind Energy sponsored by the IEEE Power Engineering Society. A Q&A session followed with considerable interest by the community. This partiallyaddresses work task (6). • (7) A proposal has been submitted by the IEEE Committee on Earth Observations to aid in support of IEEE activities that contribute to several sectors of GEO. Funding through this mechanism will not be available to non-IEEE participants, and and further funding opportunities must be identified. This addresses, in part, work task (7).

9. Work in Progress:Geneva Invitational Energy Expert Meeting: August 28-29, 2006

10. Geneva Energy Expert Meeting Activities • Support for Renewable Energy CoP Structure and Workplan • Endorse combination of Renewable and ‘Non-Renewable’ into ‘Energy Community of Practice’ (ECP) to address all of task number EN-06-xx • All members of Expert Meeting agreed to be participants in the ‘ECP’ • Non-Renewable members were identified with promise of assistance to broaden representation • Writing group identified to create GEOSS Energy 10-year plan over next four months as a basis for funding • Support series of outreach workshops over next few years

11. Current Administrative Organization • Wind Energy Community of Practice • Solar Energy Community of Practice • Bio-Energy Community of Practice • In Development • Hydro-, geo-, ocean-energy

12. Next Steps for ECP • Questionnaire, all ECP components • Develop an on-line registry (funding aquired) • Series of small workshops (regional?) • Outreach for workplan • Questions for questionnaire and workshops • What are the key questions • What is the existing technical capacity • What are the existing and required operational and technical support facilities • What do the users need in 5 and 10 years • What are the key metrics and milestones that we can address • What is the degree of precision and accuracy required for operational activities

13. New Workplan Tasks • EN-07-P1: Renewable Energy: • Develop the use of Earth observation in the management of uncertainties related to fluctuations and intermittency of renewable energy sources. Related activities will include: Support the development of Earth observation applications improving the monitoring and forecast of renewable energy sources. Promote collaboration between users and providers of Earth observation applications to foster the development of innovative Earth observation services in support of renewable energy applications • EN-07-P2: Environmental Impact Monitoring: • Set up an Earth observation platform for the monitoring and prediction of environmental impact from energy resource extraction, transportation and/or exploitation. Related activities will include: Promote and develop the use of Earth observation data for impact monitoring. Support the development of modelling systems helping to quantify and anticipate changes e.g. to freshwater, biodiversity, ecosystems, atmospheric andground elevation. Make relevant synergies with Task US-07-P1 • EN-07-P3: Energy Policy Planning: • Encourage the use of Earth observation for informed energy-policy planning in developing countries. Related activities will include: Identify Earth observation data and products required to better assess countries' potential for renewable and non-renewable energy production. Facilitate access to this data. Encourage training of decision-makers at all relevant levels for interpretation of this data.