ICEM 2025 Panel: The Role of Meteorologists in Achieving Net-Zero Energy Systems

Panel Title: The Role of Meteorologists in Achieving Net-Zero Energy Systems
When: (Day 1) Tuesday 3rd June 2025 – 16:10-18:00 CEST
Where: Galzignano Terme Spa and Golf Resort, TBC

Session description:

As the world strives for net-zero greenhouse gas emissions, meteorologists play a critical role in shaping and supporting the energy transition. Net-zero requires balancing anthropogenic emissions with removals through carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) or sequestration. However, scalable and effective CCUS solutions remain limited, making non-fossil, 100% low-carbon energy scenarios an increasingly viable alternative.

Achieving net-zero, particularly under 1.5°C and 2°C climate targets, demands massive electrification, rapid deployment of renewables, and substantial upgrades to grid infrastructure. The variable nature of renewable energy presents challenges for reliability, forecasting, and system resilience, requiring advanced meteorological insights.

This ICEM 2025 panel session will bring together energy system planners, operators, and atmospheric scientists to evaluate the adequacy of current meteorological data, models, and forecasts in supporting net-zero scenarios. The discussion will explore how to:

• Enhance grid flexibility and resilience through improved forecasting (short-term to seasonal)
• Assess the impact of extreme weather and climate variability on energy system reliability
• Improve the way meteorological data is used for “bankable” renewable energy projects.

Join us for an essential dialogue on the critical role of meteorology in securing the future of energy systems dominated by renewables.

Session leads:
Dave Renne (ISES) and Hamid Bastani (WMO)