Lidar For Weather Forecasting Market Size, Share, Industry, Forecast and outlook (2024-2031)

Report Overview

Global Lidar For Weather Forecasting Market reached US$ 630 million in 2022 and is expected to reach US$ 2,449 million by 2030, growing with a CAGR of 18.5% during the forecast period 2023-2030.

The global lidar for weather forecasting market is expected to witness growth on account of rising severity of natural disasters due to the effects of global warming and climate change. Governments of countries in vulnerable areas are investing in new and advanced weather forecasting technologies such as lidar to ensure better tracking of natural disasters such as hurricanes, tropical storms and tornadoes, thus saving lives. 

New and sohpisticated lidar technology is being developed to ensure the growth of the global market. For instance, in May 2023, NuView, a U.S.-based geosensing company, used a constellation of satellites with lidar technology to map weather events on earth. The company further hopes to launch new satellites in the future to improve its mapping system.

Market Scope

Market Dynamics

Increase in Government Initiatives and Funding

Governments globally are taking steps to mitigate climate change by promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. To encourage the growth of renewable energy infrastructure, governments provide funding and incentives to support the installation and operation of wind farms, solar parks and other renewable energy projects. Weather forecasting lidar is essential for assessing the viability of such projects and government funding plays a significant role in driving the demand for weather LiDAR systems.

Governments invest in research and development programs to advance weather LiDAR technology and enhance its capabilities. For instance, in November 2021, the Indian government announced a funding of ₹2000 Crores (US$ 243 million) for R&D of new weather forecasting technologies, including lidar. Government support enables research institutions and technology providers to develop state-of-the-art weather lidar solutions, leading to improved accuracy, reliability and efficiency. 

Growing Adoption of Wind Energy

Renewable energy adoption has increased in the wake of falling costs, strong government incentives and the ongoing substitution of conventional energy generation capacity. The growth of wind energy is particularly tied to the development of lidar technology. Weather lidar systems play a crucial role in assessing the wind resource potential at specific locations. By measuring wind speed, direction, turbulence and other atmospheric parameters, lidar technology provides accurate and detailed data for site assessment. 

Accurate weather forecasting is crucial for wind energy operations. Weather lidar, in combination with other meteorological data sources, improves the accuracy of wind energy forecasting. By capturing localized atmospheric conditions and predicting wind patterns, lidar systems enable more precise forecasting of wind speed, direction and changes in wind regimes. It helps utilities and grid operators optimize energy distribution and manage grid stability, contributing to the increased integration of wind power into the electricity grid.

Countries such as China, India, Denmark, Germany, UK, Norway and U.S. are undertaking major new wind energy projects. The capacity augmentation of wind energy is increasing the demand for weather lidar systems, since lidar is a crucial technology that is integral to the development of new wind energy projects.  

Complexity of Weather Phenomena

Weather phenomena are highly complex and can vary in different geographic regions. Adverse weather conditions such as dense clouds, heavy precipitation and turbulent atmospheric dynamics can affect the performance and data quality of LiDAR systems. The challenges make it difficult to capture accurate and reliable data necessary for weather forecasting.

LiDAR technology relies on the transmission and detection of laser pulses to measure atmospheric parameters. However, dense clouds, fog and heavy precipitation can obstruct the transmission and scattering of laser beams, limiting the range and accuracy of LiDAR measurements. The inability to penetrate through these weather elements restricts the effectiveness of LiDAR systems for comprehensive weather monitoring and forecasting.

For more details on this report - Request for Sample

Segment Analysis

The global lidar for weather forecasting market is segmented based on type, component, forecast and region.

Due to Their Ability to Provide High Resolution Measurements, Terrestrial Lidar Systems are Most Widely Preferred

Terrestrial lidar systems account for more than half the share of the global market. Terrestrial lidar systems are ground-based and provide accurate measurements of atmospheric conditions close to the Earth's surface. The systems utilize laser beams to measure parameters such as wind speed, wind direction, turbulence and aerosol concentration. 

Terrestrial LiDAR is commonly deployed at fixed locations, such as meteorological stations, to monitor and record weather data continuously. It offers high-resolution measurements and can capture detailed information about localized weather phenomena, making it particularly useful for short-range weather forecasting and localized weather monitoring applications.

Source: DataM Intelligence Analysis (2023)

Geographical Insights

Adoption of Advanced Emerging Technologies Gives North America a Leading Share of the Global Market

The North American lidar for weather forecasting market accounts for nearly a third of the global market. North America has a well-established meteorological infrastructure, with a strong emphasis on weather monitoring and forecasting. The region is equipped with a dense network of weather observation stations and radar systems. The integration of weather lidar technology into this infrastructure enhances the accuracy and coverage of weather monitoring, supporting various sectors such as aviation, agriculture and emergency management.

North America is a hub for technological advancements, including lidar technology. Ongoing research and development efforts lead to improvements in weather lidar systems, such as increased accuracy, higher resolution and enhanced data processing capabilities. For instance, in November 2021, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of U.S. tested the new micro-pulse doppler lidar, a new portable instrument designed to measure wind speeds and lead to more improved hurricane forecasts.

Source: DataM Intelligence Analysis (2023)

Market KeyPlayers

The major global players include Vaisala, FARO, Aerometrex, Kemira OYJ, Sick AG, SureStar, Hexagon AB, Teledyne Geospatial, Velodyne Lidar, Inc. and YellowScan.

COVID Impact Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic led to disruptions in global supply chains, affecting the manufacturing and delivery of weather LiDAR systems. Lockdowns, travel restrictions and social distancing measures hindered the production and installation of lidar equipment, causing delays in project timelines and deployments. It also impacted the revenues of many lidar companies.

With decline in COVID cases due to mass vaccinations and eventual receding of the pandemic, the development of new lidar technologies and installation of new projects once again picked up pace. The post-pandemic period is likely to witnessed renewed growth of new lidar weather forecasting projects in various countries globally.

AI Impact Analysis 

AI techniques, including machine learning and deep learning algorithms, have advanced data processing and analysis capabilities. Weather LiDAR systems generate vast amounts of complex data that can be efficiently analyzed using AI algorithms. AI enables automated data interpretation, pattern recognition and anomaly detection, leading to faster and more accurate insights from weather lidar data.

AI algorithms integrated with weather LiDAR data improve the accuracy and reliability of weather forecasting models. By analyzing historical weather data from LiDAR systems, AI algorithms can identify patterns, correlations and trends, leading to more precise predictions. AI-powered forecasting models help in understanding weather phenomena, predicting extreme events and providing timely warnings.

Russia- Ukraine War Impact Analysis

The conflict has disrupted demand for lidar technology from Ukraine and Russia. The war has significantly damaged Ukraine’s infrastructure and bankrupted its economy, rendering it unable to invest in new lidar technologies. Furthermore, sanctions have been imposed on Russia for the war by U.S. and European Union (EU). The sanctions have cut off access to advanced western technologies for the Russian market, thus making it unable to purchase or install lidars for weather forecasting.  

Furthermore, Ukraine and Russia were both major suppliers of high-purity noble gases used for production of semiconductors and electronic components. The war has disrupted their supply, thus leading to difficulties in production of specialized electronic components for weather forecasting lidar technology. 

By Type

• Terrestrial
• Aerial
• Mobile
• Short Range

By Component

• Laser
• Inertial Navigation System
• Camera
• GPS GNSS
• Micro electro mechanical system

By Forecast

• Nowcast
• Short-Range
• Medium-Range
• Extended-Range
• Long-Range

By Region

• North America
  • U.S.
  • Canada
  • Mexico
• Europe
  • Germany
  • UK
  • France
  • Italy
  • Spain
  • Rest of Europe
• South America
  • Brazil
  • Argentina
  • Rest of South America
• Asia-Pacific
  • China
  • India
  • Japan
  • Australia
  • Rest of Asia-Pacific
• Middle East and Africa

Key Developments

• In March 2023, Leonardo, an Italian manufacturer of defence equipment, introduced its new generation of doppler lidar system called SKIRON3D for highly accurate and detailed weather forecasts. 
• In March 2023, scientists from the Fraunhofer Institute for Laser Technology and the Leibniz Institute for Atmospheric Physics in Germany, used a newly developed lidar system to calculate wind speed and temperature data at an altitude of 100 km. 
• In March 2022, Metro Weather Co., Ltd., a Japanese manufacturer of weather forecast equipment announced the successful testing of its new doppler lidar which was affixed to a seagoing vessel. The lidar system successfully measured weather and tide forecasts to enable the navigation of the vessel.

Why Purchase the Report?

• To visualize the global lidar for weather forecasting market segmentation based on type, component, forecast and region, as well as understand key commercial assets and players.
• Identify commercial opportunities by analyzing trends and co-development. 
• Excel data sheet with numerous data points of lidar for weather forecasting market-level with all segments.
• PDF report consists of a comprehensive analysis after exhaustive qualitative interviews and an in-depth study.
• Type mapping available as Excel consisting of key products of all the major players.

The global lidar for weather forecasting market report would provide approximately 57 tables, 62 figures and 180 Pages.

Forecast 2023

• Lidar Manufacturers
• Weather Forecasting Companies
• Industry Investors/Investment Bankers
• Research Professionals
• Emerging Companies