Sustainability in 2024: How OpenWeather Helps Build a Greener Future

This year has seen an exciting growth in new technologies that focus on the overwhelming need to create a sustainable future for us all. The UK alone invested approximately £30 billion in green technologies in 2024, a 15% increase from the previous year. At OpenWeather, we have a company-wide commitment to sustainability and minimising our environmental impact, and are proud to have been awarded the Carbon Neutrality Certificate once again.

In our latest article, we explore some of these innovative solutions, and see how they can help us reduce our impact on the planet. We also see how weather data plays a crucial role in the development and success of these solutions.

Greening the Construction Industry

The construction industry is undergoing a green revolution. Companies are increasingly using carbon-negative aggregates in concrete production, which actually absorb more CO2 than they emit. 3D printing is minimizing waste by allowing for precise material use, while bio-based materials such as hempcrete and timber are gaining popularity as renewable alternatives to traditional building materials. These materials offer excellent insulation and carbon sequestration properties.

The integration of smart building design technologies and frameworks including Building Information Modeling (BIM) are optimizing energy consumption in new constructions, significantly reducing operational emissions, as well as waste. Incorporating BIM models with bespoke OpenWeather Dashboard reports can help coordinate the multiple working-parts of a large-scale construction project.

Capturing Carbon for a Cleaner Future

This year has also witnessed significant strides in Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technologies:

• Post-combustion capture technologies are enabling existing power plants to be retrofitted with CCS capabilities, as seen in Canada's Boundary Dam Power Station.
• Oxy-fuel combustion, where fuel is burned in pure oxygen to produce a concentrated stream of CO2 for easier capture and storage.
• Direct air capture is also being deployed at large-scale plants to remove CO2 directly from the atmosphere.

These developments, along with ongoing research into geological storage solutions and the use of captured CO2 in products such as synthetic fuels, highlight the growing potential of CCS in mitigating climate change.

The weather significantly impacts carbon capture efficiency. Higher temperatures and humidity can reduce capture rates in Direct Air Capture (DAC) systems. Weather also affects nature-based solutions, and the stability of geological CO2 storage. For example, extreme rainfall events can increase the risk of leakage from underground reservoirs.

OpenWeather provides a number of products and services that can be integrated into a wide range CCS systems.

• Forecasts: Real-time data on temperature, humidity, and wind for optimizing DAC operations. The OpenWeather One Call API 3.0 can be easily integrated into a wide range of applications to give nuanced, accurate and geo-specific forecasts
• Long-term forecasts: Insights into future weather patterns for planning nature-based solutions and geological storage. The OpenWeather Climatic forecast for 30 days gives long-term climatic forecasts, with the One Call API 3.0 giving 1.5year forecasts.
• Meteorology service: Expert analysis for site-specific assessments and risk management. This can be configured to your specific requirements, and accessed through the OpenWeather Dashboard.

Storing Renewable Energy

The transition to renewable energy sources depends on effective energy storage. Innovative organisations are developing long-term storage solutions, from advanced batteries to pumped hydro and compressed air energy storage.

Weather data plays a fundamental role in predicting energy generation from renewable sources and managing energy storage effectively. Historical weather data and accurate forecasts for wind speed, solar radiation, and precipitation help energy providers optimize their storage systems, ensuring a reliable green energy supply.

The OpenWeather Dashboard provides bespoke reports that can be generated regularly to give relevant, accurate and specific information to manage the storage solution being used for a renewable installation.

Hydrogen Power

Hydrogen fuel cell technology is gaining momentum in transportation, with increasing use in lorries and buses. The aviation industry is exploring hydrogen-powered aircraft, while the energy sector uses hydrogen for renewable energy storage and grid stability.

Green hydrogen is increasingly being used to decarbonize steel production. Developments in electrolysis technology are making green hydrogen increasingly cost-competitive compared to fossil fuels. Combined with growing government support and private investment, hydrogen power is proving to be a viable alternative to fossil fuels.

Upcycling: From Trend to Mainstream

Upcycling is transitioning from a niche trend to a mainstream movement. Brands are expanding upcycling programs in fashion, transforming old garments into new products. For example, Julia Roebuck founded Upcycle Fashion in 2010 during her studies at the London College of Fashion. This initiative offers workshops on garment repair and upcycling, alongside sustainable fashion consultancy specializing in circular economy solutions. They collaborate with schools, businesses, and community groups to promote the reuse and repurposing of clothing, helping individuals to extend the life of their garments and reduce textile waste.

In addition, the furniture industry is creating stylish pieces from recycled materials, and the food industry is finding innovative ways to upcycle food waste. This trend is fueled by increasing consumer awareness and a desire to reduce waste, contributing to a more circular and sustainable economy.

This year has seen incredible advances in sustainable technology, from green construction and carbon capture to renewable energy storage and hydrogen power. Upcycling is also gaining traction with both industry and the public. By embracing these innovations and utilizing resources such as the OpenWeather Dashboard, we can accelerate our progress towards a greener future.

About OpenWeather:

OpenWeather provides weather data for any location on the globe using a proprietary hyperlocal forecasting model with a resolution from 500 m to 2 km, globally. More than 7,000,000 customers from logistics, agriculture, insurance, energy, retail, and many other sectors, are working with the company's weather products.

OpenWeather cooperates with global meteorological agencies such as MetOffice and NOAA, and enhances its model with data from radars, weather stations and satellites. The company provides great availability of service at 99.9% for enterprise-level products. The products can be easily integrated into complex IT systems and are ideal for ML analytic systems.

Furthermore, OpenWeather offers a comprehensive weather dashboard, providing accurate forecasts, timely severe weather alerts, detailed overviews, and expert consultations from meteorologists. As a member of the Royal Meteorological Society and an Achilles-certified supplier, OpenWeather maintains high standards of quality and reliability. The company also demonstrates a strong commitment to ethical initiatives through the OpenWeather Foundation, which supports educators and students, provides non-profit subscriptions to increase weather awareness, and fosters a community of innovators working towards a sustainable future. This commitment extends to humanitarian efforts such as the Ukrainian donation program.

For more information on how to gain access to our OpenWeather products, please email us.