• Energy Research

Texto dispoñible en galego e español A enerxía é fundamental para o desenvolvemento económico e para a permanencia dos actuais estándares de vida. O incremento na demanda fai que haxa unha preocupación crecente sobre as pautas de produción e de consumo, sobre a necesidade de camiñar cara a un sistema enerxético sustentable e sobre o impacto que o uso dos combustibles fósiles ten no medio ambiente. Por todo isto, desde sempre se considera fundamental dispoñer de información contrastable que permita realizar unha análise correcta da realidade enerxética. Neste sentido, a Comisión Estatística das Nacións Unidas considerou crucial esta temática despois da crise enerxética de principios dos anos setenta, dándolle unha prioridade alta no seu programa de traballo e acordando empregar o Balance Enerxético (BE) como instrumento chave para entender e analizar o funcionamento da enerxía e as súas relacións coa economía. Neste artigo descríbese o contido dun balance enerxético segundo as recomendacións elaboradas pola AIE e polo Eurostat (2004) co fin de harmonizar as estatísticas enerxéticas a nivel internacional. Preséntase tamén o contido da publicación Balance enerxético de Galicia, elaborada polo Instituto Enerxético de Galicia (Inega), e compárase co elaborado por outras comunidades autónomas. Esta análise amosa a falta de homoxeneidade na elaboración desta estatística de síntese no Estado español, situación tamén observada a nivel internacional La energía es fundamental para el desarrollo económico y para la permanencia de los actuales estándares de vida. El incremento en la demanda hace que haya una preocupación creciente sobre las pautas de producción y consumo, sobre la necesidad de caminar hacia un sistema energético sustentable y sobre el impacto que el uso de los combustibles fósiles tiene en el medio ambiente. Por todo esto, desde siempre se considera fundamental disponer de información contrastable que permita realizar un análisis correcto de la realidad energética. En este sentido, la Comisión Estadística de las Naciones Unidas consideró crucial esta temática después de la crisis energética de principios de los años setenta, dándole una prioridad alta en su programa de trabajo y acordando emplear el Balance Energético (BE) como instrumento clave para entender y analizar el funcionamiento de la energía y sus interrelaciones con la economía. En este artículo se describe el contenido de un balance energético según las recomendaciones elaboradas por la AIE y el Eurostat (2004) con el fin de armonizar las estadísticas energéticas a nivel internacional. Se presenta también el contenido de la publicación Balance energético de Galicia, elaborada por el Instituto Enerxético de Galicia (Inega), y se compara con la elaborada por otras comunidades autónomas. Este análisis muestra la falta de homogeneidad en la elaboración de esta estadística de síntesis en el Estado español, situación también observada a nivel internacional Energy is essential for economic development and the ability to maintain current living standards. The increase in energy demand means that there is growing concern about (i) the current patterns of production and consumption, (ii) the need to move towards a sustainable energy system and (iii) the impact that the use of fossil fuels have on the environment. All of this implies that analyzing the energy sector situation using available comparable information is essential The United Nations Statistical Commission considered crucial this issue after the energy crisis of 1970's. It gave it a high priority within its work program and agreed to use the Energy Balance (BE) as a key tool for understanding and analyzing the energy performance and their interrelationships with the economy. This article describes the results of carrying out an Energy Balance, according to the recommendations made by the International Energy Agency and Eurostat (2004), in order to harmonize the international energy statistics. In addition, it compares the contents of the publication “Energy Balance of Galicia”, developed by the Energy Institute of Galicia (Inega) with those publications generated by other Autonomous regions. This analysis shows that there is a lack of uniformity in the development of energy statistics in Spain. This phenomenon has also been observed internationally SI

Texto dispoñible en galego e español A enerxía é fundamental para o desenvolvemento económico e para a permanencia dos actuais estándares de vida. O incremento na demanda fai que haxa unha preocupación crecente sobre as pautas de produción e de consumo, sobre a necesidade de camiñar cara a un sistema enerxético sustentable e sobre o impacto que o uso dos combustibles fósiles ten no medio ambiente. Por todo isto, desde sempre se considera fundamental dispoñer de información contrastable que permita realizar unha análise correcta da realidade enerxética. Neste sentido, a Comisión Estatística das Nacións Unidas considerou crucial esta temática despois da crise enerxética de principios dos anos setenta, dándolle unha prioridade alta no seu programa de traballo e acordando empregar o Balance Enerxético (BE) como instrumento chave para entender e analizar o funcionamento da enerxía e as súas relacións coa economía. Neste artigo descríbese o contido dun balance enerxético segundo as recomendacións elaboradas pola AIE e polo Eurostat (2004) co fin de harmonizar as estatísticas enerxéticas a nivel internacional. Preséntase tamén o contido da publicación Balance enerxético de Galicia, elaborada polo Instituto Enerxético de Galicia (Inega), e compárase co elaborado por outras comunidades autónomas. Esta análise amosa a falta de homoxeneidade na elaboración desta estatística de síntese no Estado español, situación tamén observada a nivel internacional La energía es fundamental para el desarrollo económico y para la permanencia de los actuales estándares de vida. El incremento en la demanda hace que haya una preocupación creciente sobre las pautas de producción y consumo, sobre la necesidad de caminar hacia un sistema energético sustentable y sobre el impacto que el uso de los combustibles fósiles tiene en el medio ambiente. Por todo esto, desde siempre se considera fundamental disponer de información contrastable que permita realizar un análisis correcto de la realidad energética. En este sentido, la Comisión Estadística de las Naciones Unidas consideró crucial esta temática después de la crisis energética de principios de los años setenta, dándole una prioridad alta en su programa de trabajo y acordando emplear el Balance Energético (BE) como instrumento clave para entender y analizar el funcionamiento de la energía y sus interrelaciones con la economía. En este artículo se describe el contenido de un balance energético según las recomendaciones elaboradas por la AIE y el Eurostat (2004) con el fin de armonizar las estadísticas energéticas a nivel internacional. Se presenta también el contenido de la publicación Balance energético de Galicia, elaborada por el Instituto Enerxético de Galicia (Inega), y se compara con la elaborada por otras comunidades autónomas. Este análisis muestra la falta de homogeneidad en la elaboración de esta estadística de síntesis en el Estado español, situación también observada a nivel internacional Energy is essential for economic development and the ability to maintain current living standards. The increase in energy demand means that there is growing concern about (i) the current patterns of production and consumption, (ii) the need to move towards a sustainable energy system and (iii) the impact that the use of fossil fuels have on the environment. All of this implies that analyzing the energy sector situation using available comparable information is essential The United Nations Statistical Commission considered crucial this issue after the energy crisis of 1970's. It gave it a high priority within its work program and agreed to use the Energy Balance (BE) as a key tool for understanding and analyzing the energy performance and their interrelationships with the economy. This article describes the results of carrying out an Energy Balance, according to the recommendations made by the International Energy Agency and Eurostat (2004), in order to harmonize the international energy statistics. In addition, it compares the contents of the publication “Energy Balance of Galicia”, developed by the Energy Institute of Galicia (Inega) with those publications generated by other Autonomous regions. This analysis shows that there is a lack of uniformity in the development of energy statistics in Spain. This phenomenon has also been observed internationally SI

This dataset includes quality assessed hourly radiation, atmospheric, and snow mass balance observation measured in situ by instrumentation permanently installed at Atwater Study Plot (ASP), a snow observation site located in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Mountains, UT. Observation datasets are named ASP_WYyyyy_1hr, and are provided per water year as CSV files. The raw hourly dataset undergoes quality assessment and checking to filter extraneous values that are physically unreasonable, for example, negative snow depths, or positive solar radiation values at night. Data gaps, due to missing or removed values, are filled using interpolation. ASP is approximately a quarter acre in size and located in the town of Alta on the north side of Little Cottonwood Canyon across from Alta Ski Area (40.591206o N, 111.637685o W; 2668 m (8752 ft)). The plot encompasses an opening in an aspen and conifer forest, near tree line, and is roped off to limit site disturbance. The instrumentation platform, which is just above 3 m in height, sits near the center of the eastern half of the site. The instrumentation mounted on the platform includes temperature and relative humidity (Vaisala hmp45c), wind speed and direction (RM Young 05103), and a four component radiometer (Hukseflux NR01) with separate measurements of incoming and outgoing solar and longwave radiation from a set of four sensors. The radiation sensor is mounted on an arm extending away from the platform, and the instrument field of views are unobstructed. Similarly, snow depth is measured off of a master stake to the west of the platform (Campbell Scientific SR50A). Data is logged on a Campbell Scientific CR1000. Precipitation is included in the dataset, but it is taken from the adjacent Alta Guard site because a precipitation gauge was not yet installed at ASP the time of dataset publication. This dataset also includes hourly simulated snow energy balance and snowmelt datasets named ASP_WYyyyy_Snobal_1hr, provided per water year as CSV files. The 1d snow energy balance model SNOBAL (Marks et al., 1999) is used to calculate snow energy balance and change in phase at ASP. The model represents the snowpack as two layers, with a fixed depth (25 cm) active layer, and the remainder of the snowpack. Energy exchanges are calculated in the active layer, and then energy transfer is determined for the snowpack as a whole, from which the energy available for phase changes in both layers is determined. Inputs to the model include hourly averages of net shortwave radiation, longwave irradiance, air temperature, vapor pressure, wind speed, and precipitation mass. 

This dataset includes quality assessed hourly radiation, atmospheric, and snow mass balance observation measured in situ by instrumentation permanently installed at Atwater Study Plot (ASP), a snow observation site located in Little Cottonwood Canyon, Wasatch Mountains, UT. Observation datasets are named ASP_WYyyyy_1hr, and are provided per water year as CSV files. The raw hourly dataset undergoes quality assessment and checking to filter extraneous values that are physically unreasonable, for example, negative snow depths, or positive solar radiation values at night. Data gaps, due to missing or removed values, are filled using interpolation. ASP is approximately a quarter acre in size and located in the town of Alta on the north side of Little Cottonwood Canyon across from Alta Ski Area (40.591206o N, 111.637685o W; 2668 m (8752 ft)). The plot encompasses an opening in an aspen and conifer forest, near tree line, and is roped off to limit site disturbance. The instrumentation platform, which is just above 3 m in height, sits near the center of the eastern half of the site. The instrumentation mounted on the platform includes temperature and relative humidity (Vaisala hmp45c), wind speed and direction (RM Young 05103), and a four component radiometer (Hukseflux NR01) with separate measurements of incoming and outgoing solar and longwave radiation from a set of four sensors. The radiation sensor is mounted on an arm extending away from the platform, and the instrument field of views are unobstructed. Similarly, snow depth is measured off of a master stake to the west of the platform (Campbell Scientific SR50A). Data is logged on a Campbell Scientific CR1000. Precipitation is included in the dataset, but it is taken from the adjacent Alta Guard site because a precipitation gauge was not yet installed at ASP the time of dataset publication. This dataset also includes hourly simulated snow energy balance and snowmelt datasets named ASP_WYyyyy_Snobal_1hr, provided per water year as CSV files. The 1d snow energy balance model SNOBAL (Marks et al., 1999) is used to calculate snow energy balance and change in phase at ASP. The model represents the snowpack as two layers, with a fixed depth (25 cm) active layer, and the remainder of the snowpack. Energy exchanges are calculated in the active layer, and then energy transfer is determined for the snowpack as a whole, from which the energy available for phase changes in both layers is determined. Inputs to the model include hourly averages of net shortwave radiation, longwave irradiance, air temperature, vapor pressure, wind speed, and precipitation mass. 

AbstractIn this study, we investigate the representation of the global mean energy balance components in 10 atmospheric reanalyses, and compare their magnitudes with recent reference estimates as well as the ones simulated by the latest generation of climate models from the 6th phase of the coupled model intercomparison project (CMIP6). Despite the assimilation of comprehensive observational data in reanalyses, the spread amongst the magnitudes of their global energy balance components generally remains substantial, up to more than 20 Wm−2 in some quantities, and their consistency is typically not higher than amongst the much less observationally constrained CMIP6 models. Relative spreads are particularly large in the reanalysis global mean latent heat fluxes (exceeding 20%) and associated intensity of the global water cycle, as well as in the energy imbalances at the top-of-atmosphere and surface. A comparison of reanalysis runs in full assimilation mode with corresponding runs constrained only by sea surface temperatures reveals marginal differences in their global mean energy balance components. This indicates that discrepancies in the global energy balance components caused by the different model formulations amongst the reanalyses are hardly alleviated by the imposed observational constraints from the assimilation process. Similar to climate models, reanalyses overestimate the global mean surface downward shortwave radiation and underestimate the surface downward longwave radiation by 3–7 Wm−2. While reanalyses are of tremendous value as references for many atmospheric parameters, they currently may not be suited to serve as references for the magnitudes of the global mean energy balance components.

AbstractIn this study, we investigate the representation of the global mean energy balance components in 10 atmospheric reanalyses, and compare their magnitudes with recent reference estimates as well as the ones simulated by the latest generation of climate models from the 6th phase of the coupled model intercomparison project (CMIP6). Despite the assimilation of comprehensive observational data in reanalyses, the spread amongst the magnitudes of their global energy balance components generally remains substantial, up to more than 20 Wm−2 in some quantities, and their consistency is typically not higher than amongst the much less observationally constrained CMIP6 models. Relative spreads are particularly large in the reanalysis global mean latent heat fluxes (exceeding 20%) and associated intensity of the global water cycle, as well as in the energy imbalances at the top-of-atmosphere and surface. A comparison of reanalysis runs in full assimilation mode with corresponding runs constrained only by sea surface temperatures reveals marginal differences in their global mean energy balance components. This indicates that discrepancies in the global energy balance components caused by the different model formulations amongst the reanalyses are hardly alleviated by the imposed observational constraints from the assimilation process. Similar to climate models, reanalyses overestimate the global mean surface downward shortwave radiation and underestimate the surface downward longwave radiation by 3–7 Wm−2. While reanalyses are of tremendous value as references for many atmospheric parameters, they currently may not be suited to serve as references for the magnitudes of the global mean energy balance components.

South African Disaggregated Provincial Electricity and Liquid Fuels Energy Balance for 2017Compiled under the RE-Integrate Project to support the Provincial South African TIMES model.This dataset merges 2017 liquid fuel sales data (from SAPIA/DMRE) with electricity sales data (from Eskom and municipalities) to provide a partial energy balance disaggregated to the provincial level. It specifically uses 2017 data as a load shedding-free, pre-COVID baseline (since both load shedding from inconsistent and severe national electricity supply shortages, and COVID lockdowns and associated economic downturn had drastic distorting effects on energy demand in recent years). Further disaggregation (e.g., Western Cape separated from the City of Cape Town, industrial sub-sectors, household income groups) is planned for ongoing work. Updated 2024 data is being sourced (still unreleased) to reflect post-COVID, post-load-shedding conditions in 2024 and will be incorporated to develop an improved, more recent baseline.Created by: Bruno Merven, Energy Systems Research Group, University of Cape TownWith Contributions from: Mashaka Lubenga, Energy Systems Research Group, University of Cape TownLast update: February 2025