ScottishPower Renewables has signed a contract with the Met Office to receive weather forecast information.

The two-year agreement includes the use of a software that will allow the company to monitor and keep track of real-time and forecast conditions across its portfolio of wind farms.

Called VisualEyes, it is an intuitive web-based weather monitoring and alerting system that helps energy asset managers and wind farm operators manage the safety of on-site personnel and plan the most cost efficient maintenance schedules.

ScottishPower Renewables will have have access to the last two hours of real-time data as well as forecast periods from six hours to 14 days ahead.

Patrick Sachon, Head of Energy at the Met Office added: “Our upgraded VisualEyes product has been developed in conjunction with the renewables industry and improves staff and contractor safety by informing site engineers on prevailing weather conditions, allowing them to make critical decisions about health and safety on-site.

“This upgraded software gives energy asset managers safety-critical weather information in a completely redesigned user interface, allowing engineering managers and site personnel to make crucial on-the-ground decisions wherever they are.”