Open Climate Fix is a UK-based nonprofit research lab dedicated to using open-source artificial intelligence (AI) to solve urgent climate problems. Its mission is to apply AI to reduce greenhouse gas emissions as quickly and effectively as possible.
Unlike traditional research organizations, Open Climate Fix focuses on practical, real-world applications of machine learning that can be deployed immediately, with a strong emphasis on transparency, reproducibility, and open collaboration.
Their most notable work involves improving solar energy forecasting to help electricity grid operators better manage renewable power, reduce backup fossil fuel usage, and increase overall grid efficiency.
Features
Open Climate Fix’s work revolves around applying advanced AI models to real-world energy challenges, with several defining features:
Solar Nowcasting Models
The team develops machine learning models for solar nowcasting—short-term solar electricity forecasting using satellite imagery and weather data. These models provide forecasts for up to six hours ahead, significantly improving the accuracy of energy grid management.
Open-Source Code and Research
All of Open Climate Fix’s work is shared publicly. The code, datasets, models, and papers are available on platforms like GitHub, encouraging reuse and collaboration across the scientific and energy sectors.
Satellite Image Processing
They leverage satellite data from sources like Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) and use deep learning to analyze cloud movements and predict solar irradiance at ground level.
Grid Operator Collaboration
Open Climate Fix works directly with national grid operators such as the UK’s National Grid ESO, providing them with improved solar forecasts to reduce reliance on carbon-heavy standby power.
Environmental Impact Modeling
They model the impact of better solar forecasting on emissions reduction, showcasing how AI can support decarbonization at scale.
Public Infrastructure for Research
Their goal is to build and maintain open, modular forecasting infrastructure that others can use or build upon in climate-related domains.
How It Works
Open Climate Fix’s AI-based forecasting process combines multiple data sources and machine learning techniques to deliver highly accurate predictions.
Data Collection: Satellite imagery, numerical weather prediction (NWP) data, and solar photovoltaic (PV) system outputs are collected.
Image Preprocessing: Satellite data is preprocessed and aligned to represent cloud movement and formation over time.
AI Model Training: Machine learning models are trained using historical data to learn the relationship between cloud cover and solar irradiance.
Nowcasting: The models then predict short-term solar power generation across regions, particularly in the UK.
Grid Integration: Forecast outputs are made available to grid operators, helping them balance supply and demand with less reliance on fossil fuel backups.
This system allows more solar energy to be used confidently on the grid, increasing renewable energy integration while lowering carbon emissions.
Use Cases
Open Climate Fix’s work supports a range of use cases related to clean energy and AI for climate:
Energy Grid Optimization
Improved solar forecasts help grid operators manage energy dispatch more efficiently, reducing overproduction and fossil fuel usage.
Reducing Grid Emissions
By providing more accurate real-time predictions of solar output, Open Climate Fix helps reduce the carbon footprint of power systems.
Renewable Energy Integration
Better nowcasting enables higher penetration of variable renewables like solar into national grids.
Research & Education
Universities and research institutions use Open Climate Fix’s open data and models to explore new climate applications for machine learning.
Startup and Developer Use
Startups working on clean energy solutions can leverage the open infrastructure, models, and datasets to build their own tools.
Pricing
Open Climate Fix is a nonprofit organization and does not sell products or services. All models, code, and datasets are made available under open licenses for free use by:
Grid operators
Researchers
Developers
Nonprofits
Educational institutions
Funding comes through grants, public research funds, donations, and philanthropic support. Partners include government agencies, energy providers, and climate tech organizations.
For those interested in using or supporting the platform, Open Climate Fix provides free access to all public repositories and encourages contributions via GitHub.
Strengths
Open Source Philosophy: 100% transparent and reproducible AI solutions.
Real-World Application: Models are already in use by UK energy grid stakeholders.
AI for Climate Impact: Direct link between AI innovation and emissions reduction.
Collaborative Approach: Works openly with academia, industry, and government.
Low-Cost Accessibility: Tools and models are free for anyone to use or improve.
Scalable Model: Frameworks can be adapted for other regions or use cases.
Drawbacks
Limited Project Scope: Currently focused mainly on solar forecasting; other climate domains are under exploration.
UK-Centric Deployment: Initial models and datasets are optimized for the UK; adaptation for global regions may require further development.
Dependent on Funding: As a nonprofit, scaling efforts depends on continuous external funding and grants.
Technical Entry Barrier: Usage may require understanding of AI and data science, limiting accessibility for non-technical users.
Comparison with Other Tools
Compared to proprietary forecasting platforms from commercial weather services, Open Climate Fix stands out for its open-source, nonprofit model focused purely on emissions reduction rather than commercial gain.
Tools like Tomorrow.io or Climavision offer sophisticated weather intelligence but are typically closed and commercial. Open Climate Fix differs by sharing everything openly.
In contrast to general-purpose climate AI research groups, Open Climate Fix is laser-focused on tractable, immediate-use problems, ensuring that solutions are not just academic but implemented in real-world systems.
While platforms like OpenStreetMap for weather or Climate TRACE provide open environmental data, Open Climate Fix builds and trains domain-specific AI models optimized for grid-level energy impact.
Customer Reviews and Testimonials
Open Climate Fix works directly with UK grid operator National Grid ESO, who have publicly acknowledged the potential of improved solar forecasting for grid stability and decarbonization.
The initiative has received coverage and recognition from organizations like:
Google.org (AI for Social Good grantee)
Fast Company (World Changing Ideas Honoree)
Climate Policy Radar and OpenAQ (collaborative partners in open climate data)
Industry professionals and climate researchers have praised the platform for its transparency, data quality, and strong impact-focused development.
Conclusion
Open Climate Fix is a standout example of how open-source AI can be applied to solve climate problems with measurable impact. By focusing on practical, emissions-reducing solutions like solar forecasting, the organization offers tools that not only benefit energy grids but also accelerate global climate action.
With a growing open-source community, strong partnerships, and a proven application in real-world energy systems, Open Climate Fix sets a compelling standard for how AI and climate innovation should be done: openly, collaboratively, and with purpose.
