Meteocontrol and Reuniwatt form a partnership for satellite estimations and forecasts in Asia

French solar forecasting pioneer Reuniwatt and German leading provider of technical consulting and monitoring solutions for PV systems meteocontrol GmbH have decided to intensify their business relationship. The partnership concerns real-time estimations and intraday forecasts for different sites in Asia.

The need for satellite data in China and Japan
Since 2014, meteocontrol has been getting a growing demand from Asian market players who are looking for monitoring and yield assessment solutions. Moreover, the Asian market is currently the largest global expanding market in the solar industry. meteocontrol has asked Reuniwatt to provide them with real-time estimations (also called “nowcasts”) and intraday forecasts for their Asian portfolio. Indeed, Reuniwatt has a known expertise in satellite data treatment, necessary to obtain such services. The French company has access to real-time raw satellite data issuing from five geostationary satellites covering all continents: Himawari-8 for Asia-Pacific, Meteosat-10 for Europe and Africa, Meteosat-8 for the Indian Ocean and the Middle East, GOES-East for North and South America, GOES-West for the Pacific islands.

Satellite data are available in near-real time: every 10 minutes for Himawari-8 and every 15 minutes for the other satellites. Reuniwatt”s operational method for providing nowcasts and intra-day solar forecasts is based on the most performing techniques to convert satellite images into solar irradiance maps.

“We are absolutely convinced that meteocontrol”s solutions are essential for all asset owners and we are very proud to accompany such a market leader on their Asian adventure” said Reuniwatt CEO and Founder Nicolas Schmutz.

“We are happy to provide our Asian customers with the high quality forecasts from Reuniwatt to ensure grid integration of PV power in this important market” said Robert Pfatischer, Managing Director of meteocontrol.