EP-4735920-A2 - TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINING LIGHTNING THREATS TO ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS

Abstract

Example systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are directed to determining a geographic site to be assessed for lightning activity over a period of time; obtaining weather information associated with the geographic site, the weather information being generated by a weather prediction model for the period of time, wherein the weather information comprises a grid-based representation of a weather map; determining one or more grid points to assess the geographic site for lightning activity; evaluating weather-related metrics associated with the one or more grid points; determining one or more likelihoods of the geographic site experiencing lightning activity during the period of time based at least in part on the evaluation; and providing weather forecast information for the geographic site, the weather forecast information including at least the one or more likelihoods of the geographic site experiencing lightning activity during the period of time.

Inventors

• DENG, Aijun

Assignees

• Utopus Insights, Inc.

Dates

Publication Date

20260506

Application Date

20240628

Claims (20)

1. 1 . A computer-implemented method comprising: determining a geographic site to be assessed for lightning activity over a period of time; obtaining weather information associated with the geographic site, the weather information being generated by a weather prediction model for the period of time, wherein the weather information comprises a grid-based representation of a weather map, and wherein grid points in the grid-based representation of the weather map are associated with respective weather-related metrics generated by the weather prediction model; determining one or more grid points from the grid-based representation of the weather map to assess the geographic site for lightning activity; evaluating weather-related metrics associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site; determining one or more likelihoods of the geographic site experiencing lightning activity during the period of time based at least in part on the evaluation of the weather-related metrics associated with the one or more grid points; and providing weather forecast information for the geographic site, the weather forecast information including at least the one or more likelihoods of the geographic site experiencing lightning activity during the period of time.
2. 2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein weather-related metrics associated with a grid point in the grid-based representation of the weather map are predicted by the weather prediction model for a geographic location corresponding to the grid point, and wherein the weather-related metrics include at least one of: one or more lightning flash density values predicted for the grid point, one or more Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) values predicted for the grid point, one or more Convective Rain Rate (CRR) values predicted for the grid point, or one or more K-index values predicted for the grid point.
3. 3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more grid points from the grid-based representation of the weather map to assess the geographic site for lightning activity comprises: identifying one or more grid points in the grid-based representation of the weather map that are positioned within a threshold distance of the geographic site.
4. 4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the one or more grid points from the grid-based representation of the weather map to assess the geographic site for lightning activity comprises: determining a plurality of grid points in the grid-based representation of the weather map that encompass the geographic site based at least in part on a bounding shape.
5. 5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein evaluating weather-related metrics associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site comprises: determining an explicit prediction based at least in part on weather-metrics associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site for lightning activity, the explicit prediction being based at least in part on lightning flash density values associated with the one or more grid points; and determining an implicit prediction based at least in part on weather-metrics associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site for lightning activity, the implicit prediction being based at least in part on one or more of: Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) values associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site, Convective Rain Rate (CRR) values associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site, or K-index values associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site.
6. 6. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the explicit prediction is calculated as a fraction with a numerator that corresponds to a count of grid posts in the one or more grid posts that have a non-zero lightning flash density value and a denominator that corresponds to a total count of grid posts in the one or more grid posts.
7. 7. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein the implicit prediction is calculated as a weighted average of at least one of: Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) values associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site, Convective Rain Rate (CRR) values associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site, or K-index values associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site.
8. 8. The computer-implemented method of claim 5, wherein a likelihood of the geographic site experiencing lightning activity during the period of time is calculated as a weighted average of one or more values associated with the explicit prediction and one or more values associated with the implicit prediction.
9. 9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing weather forecast information for the geographic site comprises: determining that at least one of the one or more likelihoods of the geographic site experiencing lightning activity during the period of time satisfy a threshold likelihood value; and providing an alert to a computing system associated with the geographic site in response to the determination.
10. 10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein providing weather forecast information for the geographic site comprises: providing a graphical user interface corresponding to a weather monitoring platform, the graphical user interface including at least: a visual map of the geographic site and lightning information determined for the geographic site.
11. 11. A computer-implemented method comprising: determining a geographic site to be assessed for lightning activity at point in time; obtaining weather information associated with the geographic site, wherein the weather information is forecasted by a weather prediction model for the point in time; determining at least one grid point in a grid-based representation of the weather information to assess the geographic site for lightning activity; determining lightning information for the geographic site based at least in part on an evaluation of weather-related metrics associated with the at least one grid point, wherein the lightning information forecasts lightning activity for the geographic site at the point in time; and providing lightning information for the geographic site, wherein the lightning information includes at least information describing lightning activity forecasted for the geographic site at the point in time.
12. 12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein determining at least one grid point in a grid-based representation of the weather information to assess the geographic site for lightning activity comprises: identifying one or more grid points in the grid-based representation of the weather information that are positioned within a threshold distance of the geographic site.
13. 13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein determining at least one grid point in a grid-based representation of the weather information to assess the geographic site for lightning activity comprises: determining a plurality of grid points in the grid-based representation of the weather information that bound the geographic site based at least in part on a bounding shape.
14. 14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein determining lightning information for the geographic site comprises: determining a likelihood of lightning activity occurring at the geographic site at the point in time based at least in part on an evaluation of (a) lightning flash density values associated with the at least one grid point at the point in time, (b) Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) values associated with the at least one grid point at the point in time; (c) Convective Rain Rate (CRR) values associated with the at least one grid point at the point in time, or (d) K-index values associated with the at least one grid point at the point in time, or a combination thereof.
15. 15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the lightning information includes the likelihood of lightning activity occurring at the geographic site at the point in time.
16. 16. A system comprising at least one processor and memory storing instructions that cause the system to perform: determining a geographic site to be assessed for lightning activity at point in time; obtaining weather information associated with the geographic site, wherein the weather information is forecasted by a weather prediction model for the point in time; determining at least one grid point in a grid-based representation of the weather information to assess the geographic site for lightning activity; determining lightning information for the geographic site based at least in part on an evaluation of weather-related metrics associated with the at least one grid point, wherein the lightning information forecasts lightning activity for the geographic site at the point in time; and providing lightning information for the geographic site, wherein the lightning information includes at least information describing lightning activity forecasted for the geographic site at the point in time.
17. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein, when determining at least one grid point in a grid-based representation of the weather information to assess the geographic site for lightning activity, the system performs: identifying one or more grid points in the grid-based representation of the weather information that are positioned within a threshold distance of the geographic site.
18. 18. The system of claim 16, wherein, when determining at least one grid point in a grid-based representation of the weather information to assess the geographic site for lightning activity, the system performs: determining a plurality of grid points in the grid-based representation of the weather information that bound the geographic site based at least in part on a bounding shape.
19. 19. The system of claim 16, wherein, when determining lightning information for the geographic site, the system performs: determining a likelihood of lightning activity occurring at the geographic site at the point in time based at least in part on an evaluation of (a) lightning flash density values associated with the at least one grid point at the point in time, (b) Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) values associated with the at least one grid point at the point in time; (c) Convective Rain Rate (CRR) values associated with the at least one grid point at the point in time, or (d) K-index values associated with the at least one grid point at the point in time, or a combination thereof.
20. 20. The system of claim 16, wherein the lightning information includes the likelihood of lightning activity occurring at the geographic site at the point in time.

Description

TECHNIQUES FOR DETERMINING LIGHTNING THREATS TO ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE AND OPERATIONS FIELD OF THE INVENTION(S) [0001] Embodiments of the present inventions relate generally to techniques for determining lightning threats to energy infrastructure and operations. BACKGROUND [0002] Lightning strikes may adversely affect various types of infrastructures - especially those involving renewable energy production. For instance, wind turbines, due to their towering presence, are particularly susceptible to direct lightning hits. Such strikes may cause damage to turbine blades or electronic components housed within the wind turbines. In another example, solar farms, which are often spread out across large open areas, are susceptible to lightning strikes that may damage panels, inverters, and associated electronics. Further, dams and hydropower structures also face threats from lightning, primarily concerning their electronic and control systems. Additionally, biomass or biogas stored at bioenergy production facilities are susceptible to fires that may be triggered by lightning strikes. [0003] In addition to potentially compromising infrastructure, lightning strikes may also be disruptive to operations. For instance, the presence of lightning may be a significant hazard to personnel who work in unsheltered environments, such as energy farms. As an example, personnel tasked with maintaining renewable energy infrastructure, such as wind turbines, may be at risk of injury or death should lightning activity develop during such maintenance. In another example, lightning may impact agricultural farm operations by posing risks to property, livestock, and crops. SUMMARY [0004] Example systems, methods, and non-transitory computer readable media are directed to determining a geographic site to be assessed for lightning activity over a period of time; obtaining weather information associated with the geographic site, the weather information being generated by a weather prediction model for the period of time, wherein the weather information comprises a grid-based representation of a weather map, and wherein grid points in the gridbased representation of the weather map are associated with respective weather-related metrics generated by the weather prediction model; determining one or more grid points from the gridbased representation of the weather map to assess the geographic site for lightning activity; evaluating weather-related metrics associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site; determining one or more likelihoods of the geographic site experiencing lightning activity during the period of time based at least in part on the evaluation of the weather-related metrics associated with the one or more grid points; and providing weather forecast information for the geographic site, the weather forecast information including at least the one or more likelihoods of the geographic site experiencing lightning activity during the period of time. [0005] According to some embodiments, weather-related metrics associated with a grid point in the grid-based representation of the weather map are predicted by the weather prediction model for a geographic location corresponding to the grid point, and the weather-related metrics include at least one of: one or more lightning flash density values predicted for the grid point, one or more Convective Available Potential Energy (CAPE) values predicted for the grid point, one or more Convective Rain Rate (CRR) values predicted for the grid point, or one or more K- index values predicted for the grid point. [0006] According to some embodiments, determining the one or more grid points from the grid-based representation of the weather map to assess the geographic site for lightning activity comprises: identifying one or more grid points in the grid-based representation of the weather map that are positioned within a threshold distance of the geographic site. |0007| According to some embodiments, determining the one or more grid points from the grid-based representation of the weather map to assess the geographic site for lightning activity comprises: determining a plurality of grid points in the grid-based representation of the weather map that encompass the geographic site based at least in part on a bounding shape. [0008] According to some embodiments, evaluating weather-related metrics associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site comprises: determining an explicit prediction based at least in part on weather-metrics associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the geographic site for lightning activity, the explicit prediction being based at least in part on lightning flash density values associated with the one or more grid points; and determining an implicit prediction based at least in part on weather-metrics associated with the one or more grid points determined for assessing the g