Real-Time Operational PV Simulations
Summary
The Real-Time Operational PV Simulations project deployed an operational framework for the prediction of power output from solar PV, which groups total power generation according to low voltage network assets (e.g. zone substations). This operational framework combined solar PV installation data (locations, capacities), along with electrical network information (which zone substation or feeder line the PV site is connected to) provided by the DNSP partners, to make near-term predictions of the power output from those PV systems.Forecasts were created by operational solar forecasting systems developed and maintained by a commercial entity (Solcast Solar & Storage Modelling Pty Ltd). Solcast is a partner in the ANU project and was engaged to provide global coverage of rapid update solar forecasting technologies, which detect, track and predict the future positions of cloud cover through the use of weather satellites and numerical weather models. In the Australian region, services for cloud cover imagery were provided by the Himawari 8 satellite. This has the potential to allow higher penetrations of solar PV on Australian electricity networks.