Weather forecasters are finding a lucrative niche in Japan’s power-trading boom, selling hyper-specialized data to firms seeking an edge in one of the world’s most volatile electricity markets.
Weathernews is among a handful of companies cashing in on demand for meteorological data. The Tokyo-listed company’s shares have surged 50% in the last year as investors bet on its expanded use of artificial intelligence, among other factors. The firm says it’s supplying — or is in talks to provide — data to several dozen power traders, about a third of which are based outside Japan.
"Two or three years ago, we weren’t in touch with any overseas firms looking to use our services for trading power,” said Yasuaki Takeda, executive officer of Weathernews’ energy and retail business division.
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