In a significant step toward bolstering the UK’s clean energy future, the National Energy System Operator (NESO) and the Met Office have formally agreed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that aims to harness meteorological expertise to strengthen the resilience of Britain’s energy system.
A partnership at a pivotal moment
As the UK accelerates its transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources, weather and climate disruptions pose increasingly greater risks to the energy network. Under this new agreement, the Met Office will deploy its forecasting and climate-impact capabilities in direct collaboration with NESO’s energy infrastructure planning and operations.
The MoU emphasises “the vital role of meteorological and climate knowledge in the planning and operational balancing of Britain’s energy system.
With extreme weather events expected to increase in frequency and intensity, the need for accurate forecasts and scenario planning has never been higher.
Key elements of the cooperation
The agreement outlines several core areas of cooperation:
- Data sharing and integration of advanced technologies (such as AI and digital modelling) to link weather/climate data with energy-system modelling.
- Embedding Met Office expertise directly within NESO: a secondment will place Dr Emily Wallace, a Met Office Fellow specialising in weather and climate extremes and impacts, inside NESO, giving the energy operator timely access to meteorological insight.
- Joint guidance to the UK Government and the broader energy sector, combining climate/weather intelligence with energy-system resilience strategies.
Why this matters for the UK energy system
Renewable energy sources such as wind and solar are inherently tied to weather conditions. Fluctuations in generation or demand due to weather extremes (storms, heatwaves, cold snaps) can challenge grid stability, supply reliability and cost control. The new NESO-Met Office MoU is designed to bridge that gap between weather/climate science and energy system operations.
By linking forecasting of weather extremes with energy-system planning, the partnership will help the UK maximise renewable output while mitigating risks to supply chains, infrastructure and consumers.
Read More: Weather Snow UK: Facts, Forecasts & Frequency Guide
Leadership views
Dr Deborah Petterson, Director of Resilience & Emergency Management at NESO, commented on the partnership: “Integrating climate knowledge with energy-system expertise is a vital step in delivering cleaner, more affordable energy while ensuring the reliability of the energy system in the face of climatic challenges.
Similarly, Steve Calder, Director of Government and Industry Relationships at the Met Office, said: “Weather drives Britain’s position as a clean-energy leader. Our insight into weather and climate can ensure the energy infrastructure not only supplies clean power but protects consumers effectively.
Implications and what to watch
- For policy-makers: The collaboration signals the UK government’s increasing recognition that climate resilience and energy security are inseparable. Policies will need to account for weather-driven risk in energy infrastructure investment.
- For infrastructure and operators: Grid operators, renewable developers, and transmission companies may benefit from improved forecasts and scenario modelling — enabling better scheduling, maintenance planning and risk management.
- For consumers: While this MoU is at the systemic level, improved resilience in energy supply ultimately means fewer disruptions, more efficient use of renewables (helping cost control) and lower risk of weather-related outages.
- For the climate agenda: This agreement underscores that adapting to climate change is as important as mitigating it. Even as the UK pushes toward net zero, it must also contend with the evolving behaviour of weather systems.
Looking ahead
The NESO-Met Office partnership promises to evolve actively in the months ahead. With climate models, real-time weather data and energy-system modelling converging, future forecasts may become more granular — not just covering regions or grid zones, but specific infrastructure components and risk hotspots.
As the energy transition deepens, the ability to match weather intelligence with energy operational decision-making will be a competitive advantage. The UK is positioning itself to lead not just in renewable deployment, but in climate-resilient energy systems.
Conclusion
The MoU between NESO and the Met Office is more than a memorandum—it is a strategic alignment of meteorology and energy systems at a time when the stakes are high. With the UK navigating a shifting climate and an evolving energy landscape, this collaboration marks a vital milestone in ensuring that clean energy is not just ambitious but resilient.