Improving Solar Power Forecasting
Weather (clouds, rain, snow, fog, dust, etc.) severely impacts the energy produced from solar energy systems making the power difficult to integrate into the power grid.
Solar Energy Prediction
NCAR leads a partnership to advance the state-of-the-science of solar power forecasting. The project includes performing cutting edge research, testing the forecasts in several geographically- and climatologically-diverse high penetration solar utilities and ISOs, and wide dissemination of the research results to raise the bar on solar power forecasting technology. The partners include three other national laboratories, six universities, industry partners, six utilities, and four balancing authorities.
The finished system will be made available to the solar power industry to lower costs and enable more solar power penetration. Significant savings to electrical utility rate payers is anticipated.