Virginia and NASA Launch Power Partnership to Strengthen Energy Security With Data for Planning

A new state partnership

The Space Act Agreement was announced during a ceremony Friday. Under it, NASA Langley will use its atmospheric science expertise to support Virginia Energy’s resilience studies, resource analysis and long-term planning.

NASA Langley Deputy Director Allen Kilgore said the collaboration would put NASA science data to work for Virginians and strengthen the Commonwealth’s energy security. Virginia Energy Director Vince Maiden said more realistic models could clarify how weather affects electricity supply and demand.

Weather data for planning

The agreement is intended to help state officials plan for current and possible extreme weather in Virginia. The data can help assess effects on electricity demand, energy generation and stress on the system.

Officials can incorporate the information into energy policy, planning and operational decisions. The partnership is also intended to help Virginians anticipate energy needs, prepare for severe weather and understand factors that influence electricity generation.

NASA POWER data pipeline

Virginia Energy will incorporate NASA Prediction of Worldwide Energy Resources, or POWER, data products into its modeling and analysis system. The validated products support energy system design and forecasts of energy production, drawing on NASA’s Earth Science to Action program.

Through a digital pipeline, Virginia Energy can download selected datasets from Langley’s POWER web platform for use in its modeling tools. NASA POWER team members will work with state researchers to streamline data exchange, adapt formats and assess whether more data is needed.

Research across NASA centers

The POWER products reflect research and development across NASA, including Langley, Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, and Ames Research Center in California’s Silicon Valley. NASA Langley’s Strategic Partnerships Office helped establish the collaboration. The office connects industry, academia and government agencies with center facilities, specialized testing environments, capabilities and technical expertise.