David Renné

Remote monitoring of PV performance using geostationary satellites

Abstract This paper investigates the capability of satellite remote sensing to monitor the performance of ground-based photovoltaic (PV) arrays. A comparison between the actual output of PV power plants and satellite-simulated output estimates at six climatically distinct locations is presented. The paper shows evidence that the satellite resource is an effective means of monitoring the performance of PV systems and of detecting potential problems with these systems. Large problems may be detected through the observation of sizeable monthly differences (>25%) between satellite-predicted and actual system output. Smaller problems may also be identified through an analysis of the evolution of these differences over time.

Emerging Meteorological Requirements to Support High Penetrations of Variable Renewable Energy Sources: Solar Energy

With the emergence of favorable policies and effective financing schemes to allow for large penetrations of variable renewable energy resources tied into the electricity grid, there are increasing RD in turn, as variable renewable energy (VRE) resource penetrations increase, their impact on grid reliability, stability, and energy quality also increase. A key challenge for utility and system operators is the ability to forecast this variability over time periods of a few minutes to several days in the future. R&D programs on weather-driven energy resource variability and the ability to forecast this variability have been undertaken in the U.S. and elsewhere. These programs include special field measurement campaigns, data processing techniques, and modeling schemes devised to quantify and forecast the characteristics of this variability in the electricity grid. After introducing the challenge of high penetrations of VRE in a transmission or distribution system, this chapter highlights some key studies underway or completed, with special emphasis on characterizing and predicting solar system output variability associated with rapid cloud passages or changing weather patterns. Some of these studies have been undertaken as a significant international collaboration established under the International Energy Agency’s (IEA’s) Solar Heating and Cooling (SHC) Implementing Agreement’s Task 36 “Solar Resource Knowledge Management,” and a new Task 46 currently underway titled “Solar Resource Assessment and Forecasting.”

Towards Designing an Integrated Earth Observation System for the Provision of Solar Energy Resource and Assessment

The GEOSS strategic plan specifically targets the area of improved energy resource management due to the importance of these to the economic and social viability of every nation of the world. With the worlds increasing demand for energy resources, the need for new alternative energy resources grows. This paper overviews a new initiative within the International Energy Agency that addresses needs to better manage and develop solar energy resources worldwide. The goal is to provide the solar energy industry, the electricity sector, governments, and renewable energy organizations and institutions with the most suitable and accurate information of the solar radiation resources at the Earths surface in easily-accessible formats and understandable quality metrics. The scope of solar resource assessment information includes historic data sets and currently derived data products using satellite imagery and other means. Thus, this new task will address the needs of the solar energy sector while at the same time will serve as a model that satisfies GEOSS objectives and goals.

Solar and Wind Resource Assessments for Afghanistan and Pakistan

The U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) has recently completed the production of high-resolution wind and solar energy resource maps and related data products for Afghanistan and Pakistan. The resource data have been incorporated into a geospatial toolkit (GsT), which allows the user to manipulate the resource information along with country-specific geospatial information such as highway networks, power facilities, transmission corridors, protected land areas, etc. The toolkit allows users to then transfer resource data for specific locations into NREL’s micropower optimization model known as HOMER.

Solar resource for high penetration and large scale applications – a new joint Task of IEA PVPS and IEA SolarPACES

A new joint Task of IEA Technological Collaboration Programmes PVPS (Photovoltaic Power Systems Program) and SolarPACES (Solar Power And Chemical Energy Systems) has started in July 2017 and lasts for three years. The PVPS Task 16 will be led by Jan Remund and the SolarPACES Task V by Lourdes Ramirez. This paper shows the main topics of the work plan. The main goal is to lower uncertainty of resources and forecasts and therefore lower the costs of financing costs as well operation and grid integration costs. The Task has started in June 2017 and will last till May2020. To give an example of the work to be done the discussion about different forecast metrics is shown in this paper.