Partnership with FALX

Meteomatics is pleased to announce a strategic partnership with FALX, a leading AI and machine learning company specialising in precise energy forecasting for the renewable energy sector in Africa. As the need to transition to renewable energy reaches unprecedented levels, FALX has been developing best-in-class AI-powered forecasting systems to support the penetration of renewable energy across Africa.

The African Race Towards Renewable Energies

Africa has the world's fastest-growing population and faces significant challenges in energy supply, with about half of the continent's population lacking access to electricity. In response to the increasing demand for electricity and to promote sustainable development, there has been significant investment in a greener energy mix in recent years. Several countries have secured international funding to develop wind, solar, and hydroelectric power.

Despite being the continent's leading economic power, South Africa, a key market for FALX, has been grappling with an energy shortfall due to deteriorating equipment in coal-fired plants and experiencing widespread rolling blackouts, known as load shedding, for almost 20 years.

However, new initiatives have begun to bring about change. In November 2023, the government launched the Just Energy Transition Implementation Plan, a roadmap to shift the country away from reliance on coal-fired power to renewable energy alternatives by 2027. More recently, in March 2024, the Electricity Regulation Amendment (ERA) Bill was passed allowing private energy companies to feed energy into the national grid managed by Eskom. By opening up the market for more players, this initiative will enable small private companies to scale up and new power plants to be established. The installed capacity of renewables in Southern Africa alone is projected to reach 40 gigawatts by 2030.

For Candice Thompson, Meteomatics' South African meteorologist involved in the partnership negotiations, "Electricity (or lack thereof) has been a topic for every South African for years. It's an exciting time for the energy sector in South Africa, which highlights the significance of the partnership with FALX even more".

Accurate weather forecasts are pivotal for precise energy forecasts. Thus, partnering with Meteomatics was crucial for FALX, a leading artificial intelligence and machine learning company specialising in accurate energy forecasting solutions for the renewable energy sector in Africa.

The Meteomatics Weather API's capability to provide frequent and hyper-local weather forecasts — thanks to its 90 metres spatial resolution and 5 minutes temporal resolution — combined with FALX’s machine learning systems, unlocks the potential for remarkably accurate power generation forecasts across the continent.

We anticipate this partnership enhancing the stability of the African grid as more wind, solar, and battery projects come to fruition. Improved forecast accuracy enables renewable power producers to deliver a superior service to their customers while incurring fewer forecast penalties.

Matthew Erasmus, Director of FALX, stated, "At FALX, our mission is to accelerate renewable energy adoption in Africa and ensure grid stability by providing accurate and reliable forecasting solutions. Teaming up with Meteomatics allows us to leverage their exceptional weather data accuracy, allowing us to deliver even more precise forecasts than ever before."

Chris Rees, Partnerships Manager at Meteomatics, added, "At Meteomatics, we strive every day to deliver the most accurate weather data available anywhere in the world. We employ unique technologies which focus on precision, speed and reliability for our customers. FALX has recognised our capability and understands how it will support their own ambitions to deliver ever more precise forecasts and accelerate renewable energy adoption in Africa. Through partnership with Meteomatics, FALX will lead the charge for stability and sustainability in the African power markets and we are excited to be a part of that journey."

This partnership marks a significant milestone in advancing the renewable energy sector's capabilities in Africa, fostering sustainable development, and driving economic growth through clean energy initiatives.