Techniques for forecasting solar power generation
AssigneeItron, Inc.
InventorsFrank Monforte, Andrew Sukenik
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Techniques for forecasting solar power generation include a computing device determining a clear-sky solar power generation level for a photovoltaic installation; receiving, from a first measurement device, measurement data indicating an amount of cloud cover at a first location of the first measurement device, wherein the first measurement device and the photovoltaic installation are located in a same geographical area; and generating a solar power generation forecast for the photovoltaic installation based on the clear-sky solar power generation level and the measurement data.
Claims20
A method comprising:
- determining, by a computing device, a clear-sky solar power generation level for a photovoltaic installation;
- generating, by the computing device, a measurement device index based on measurement data received from a first measurement device, the measurement device index indicating an amount of cloud cover associated with a target geographical area, wherein the first measurement device and the photovoltaic installation are both located within the target geographical area;
- and
- generating, by the computing device, a solar power generation forecast for the photovoltaic installation based on the clear-sky solar power generation level and the measurement device index.
One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing program instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform operations comprising:
- determining a power generation level for a solar power installation under clear-sky conditions;
- generating, a measurement index based on measurement data received from a measurement device node, the measurement index corresponding to an amount of cloud cover at a target geographical area, wherein the measurement device node and the solar power installation are both located in the target geographical area;
- and
- generating a forecast of an amount of solar power to be generated by the solar power installation based on the power generation level for the solar power installation under clear-sky conditions and the measurement index.
A utility control center comprising:
- one or more computing devices;
- and
- one or more memories storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more computing devices, cause the one or more computing devices to perform operations comprising:
- dividing a geographical area into a plurality of geographical regions;
- determining a clear-sky solar generation level for a photovoltaic installation located in a first geographical region of the plurality of geographical regions;
- generating a measurement device index based on measurement data received from a measurement device located in the first geographical region the measurement device index indicating a level of cloudiness in the first geographical region;
- and
- computing a forecast of an amount of power to be generated by the photovoltaic installation based on the clear-sky solar generation level for the photovoltaic installation and the level of cloudiness in the first geographical region.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.