Irish wind resource assessment provider BrightWind has launched an open data platform for Irish wind and solar resource data.
The launch marks the completion of a €162,000 grant awarded to the company in 2020 by the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland (SEAI) to develop the platform.
The BrightHub platform provides wind analysts and researchers, in Ireland and internationally, with open access to wind and solar resource datasets, enabling them to better understand Ireland’s wind and solar energy resources.
The datasets can be used to improve day-ahead forecasting of wind energy on the electrical system thus allowing more wind to be utilised instead of fossil fuels, helping Ireland to reach its renewable energy targets.
BrightWind, in which Everoze holds a minority stake, has also launched version 2.0 of its open-source data analysis library.
The library facilitates cooperation and research activities within the renewable energy industry by simplifying and standardising the access to quality wind and solar data.
Among the organisations currently contributing data to the BrightHub platform are Dundalk Institute of Technology (DkIT), SEAI along with Wind Energy Direct, Greencoat Renewables and several other industry players.
Greencoat Renewables asset manager Ben Brooks said: “We are more than happy to share historical wind resource data from some of our operational sites.
“We see this as a win-win as the learnings from the resulting research will help accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy infrastructure.
“Our commitment to a sustainable future for the planet and our society extends beyond our investments and the clean energy they generate.”
BrightWind founded in 2015 by Shane Martin and Stephen Holleran is headquartered at NovaUCD, the Centre for New Ventures and Entrepreneurs at University College Dublin.
SEAI programme manager John McCann said: “SEAI was delighted to provide funding to BrightWind through its research and development programme which supports innovations that contribute to Ireland’s low carbon future.
“The BrightHub platform will facilitate the wind and solar energy sector by providing access to improved wind and solar energy resource data and analysis.
“This platform will in particular provide a resource to small wind and solar energy players such as community projects and renewable energy self-consumers, who can find it difficult to access good quality wind and solar resource data and analysis tools.”