EPRI Awarded $1.8 Million for Solar Forecasting Technology Research
The Electric Power Research Institute has announced a $1.8 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop and demonstrate new methods to operate power systems with high penetrations of solar power.
The award is part of the DOE’s Solar Forecasting 2 funding program to advance predictive modeling capabilities for solar generation for more accurate forecasts of solar generation levels. Solar Forecasting 2 projects are designed to enable electric utilities to better manage the variability and uncertainty of solar power and improve grid reliability.
EPRI’s project, “Operational Probabilistic Tools for Solar Uncertainty,” will use solar power forecasts to capture the uncertainty inherent in solar power output. Using actual data from three energy companies, the research will develop a platform that enables new power system operating methods and tools.
The project has three objectives:
-Develop improved probabilistic solar power forecasts for both utility-scale and distributed solar
-Design advanced use cases for probabilistic forecasts through detailed simulation of power system operations for three energy companies
-Develop and demonstrate a scheduling management platform that enables the integration of forecasts into operations
“With improved solar probabilistic forecasts integrated into utility scheduling and reserve processes, utilities could improve reliability and reduce solar integration costs,” said Aidan Tuohy, principal project manager for transmission operations and planning at EPRI.
