Seamless climate information for enhancing energy system resilience in Spain

Spain, in its pursuit of climate neutrality by 2050 in alignment with the European Green Deal, faces the complex challenge of transitioning from a fossil fuel-based energy system to one predominantly reliant on renewable sources. However, the climate-dependent nature of renewable energy introduces significant challenges related to variability, reliability, and integration into the power system. In this context, climate predictions across multiple timescales have gained recognition as valuable tools to support energy system planning and operation. These predictions allow the anticipation of both energy demand and supply-side variability, which reduces climate risks and enhances decision-making capabilities. 

From a user-oriented perspective, the availability of temporally continuous and methodologically consistent climate information is essential for supporting diverse decision-making processes—from short-term operations to long-term strategic planning. Nevertheless, within the climate science community, efforts remain unevenly distributed across temporal scales. For example, sub-seasonal forecasts are significantly less utilized compared to weather or seasonal predictions. Meanwhile, decadal forecasts (covering 1–10 years), although highly relevant for medium-term planning, remain less mature and less integrated into operational services than seasonal forecasts and long-term climate projections.

To address these gaps and provide coherent, actionable climate information across forecast horizons, the BOREAS project aims to develop seamless climate products spanning sub-seasonal, seasonal, decadal, and long-term timescales. Adopting a co-development framework with stakeholders from the energy sector, the project ensures that scientific outputs are aligned with user needs and that prediction tools are effectively translated into planning and operational applications. These efforts support both the energy transition and the design of climate adaptation strategies at multiple spatial and administrative levels.

BOREAS is currently producing synthesized, harmonized, and user-tailored climate information for the renewable energy sector. This information is made available through a dedicated visual interface (developed as a Shiny App), which is continuously updated throughout the project. The platform functions as both a dissemination and operational tool, providing real-time forecasts, interactive visualizations, and supporting documentation to facilitate the effective uptake and use of climate information within the renewable energy industry.