# US 12,112,288 B2 · Techniques for forecasting solar power generation > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,112,288 B2 - Document ID: US12112288B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 18/301,171 - Filed: 2023-04-14 - Published: 2023-08-10 - Granted: 2024-10-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-09-20 - Assignees: Itron, Inc. - Applicants: Itron, Inc. - Inventors: Frank Monforte; Andrew Sukenik - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12112288B2 ## CPC - G06Q 10/06315: {Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis} - G01W 1/10: Devices for predicting weather conditions (computers per se G06; display devices G09) - G01W 1/12: Sunshine duration recorders (measuring intensity of sunshine G01J) - G06Q 10/04: Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" (market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202) - G06Q 50/06: Energy or water supply - H02J 3/004: {Generation forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future energy generation} - H02J 3/388: Arrangements for the handling of islanding, e.g. for disconnection or for avoiding the disconnection of power - H02J 13/12: Monitoring network conditions, e.g. electrical magnitudes or operational status - H02J 13/1331: {using wireless data transmission} - G06N 20/00: Machine learning - H02J 3/003: {Load forecast, e.g. methods or systems for forecasting future load demand} - H02J 2103/30: Simulating, planning, modelling, reliability check or computer assisted design [CAD] of electric power networks - Y02E 10/56: Power conversion systems, e.g. maximum power point trackers - Y02E 60/00: Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation - Y04S 10/30: State monitoring, e.g. fault, temperature monitoring, insulator monitoring, corona discharge - Y04S 10/50: Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications - Y04S 40/126: using wireless data transmission - G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G01W: METEOROLOGY (radar, sonar, lidar or analogous systems, designed for meteorological use G01S13/95, G01S15/88, G01S17/95) - H02J: ELECTRIC POWER NETWORKS; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS OR SYSTEMS FOR SUPPLYING OR DISTRIBUTING ELECTRIC POWER; SYSTEMS FOR STORING ELECTRIC ENERGY - G06N: COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION - Y04S: SYSTEMS INTEGRATING TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO POWER NETWORK OPERATION, COMMUNICATION OR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGIES FOR IMPROVING THE ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATION, TRANSMISSION, DISTRIBUTION, MANAGEMENT OR USAGE, i.e. SMART GRIDS ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting, by the computing device, the first measurement device from a plurality of second measurement devices located in the target geographical area based on a mapping between measurement devices and photovoltaic installations. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the measurement device index is determined by scaling a current output of the first measurement device by a maximum output level of the first measurement device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating the solar power generation forecast is further based on measurement data from a second measurement device located in the target geographical area with the first measurement device and the photovoltaic installation. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the clear-sky solar power generation level comprises: generating an estimated clear-sky solar power generation level based on an insolation level associated with the photovoltaic installation; and modifying the estimated clear-sky solar power generation level based on at least one configuration parameter associated with the photovoltaic installation. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein determining the clear-sky solar power generation level comprises: mapping the photovoltaic installation to a prototype photovoltaic installation based on at least one operational parameter associated with the photovoltaic installation; and determining the clear-sky solar power generation level based on an estimated solar power generation level of the prototype photovoltaic installation under clear-sky conditions. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating the solar power generation forecast is further based on weather data for the target geographic area. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein generating the solar power generation forecast for the photovoltaic installation comprises applying a predictive model that is trained based on historical solar power generation levels associated with the photovoltaic installation. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising assigning, by the computing device, the first measurement device and the photovoltaic installation to a first solar region based on first insolation parameters at a first location and second insolation parameters at a second location of the photovoltaic installation. ### Claim 10 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein boundaries of the target geographical area are determined based on at least one of electrical power grid connectivity, geospatial boundaries, or climate zones. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the operations further comprise selecting the measurement device node from a plurality of measurement device nodes located in the target geographical area based on a mapping between measurement device nodes and solar power installations. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein forecasting the amount of solar power to be generated by the solar power installation comprises applying a predictive model that is trained, based on historical power generation levels associated with the solar power installation. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein the forecasting of the amount of solar power to be generated by the solar power installation is further based on weather data for the target geographical area. ### Claim 15 (depends on 10) The one or more non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 10, wherein determining the power generation level for the solar power installation under clear-sky conditions comprises: selecting a prototype solar power installation based on at least one operational parameter associated with the solar power installation; and determining the power generation level for the solar power installation under clear-sky conditions based on an estimated power generation level of the prototype solar power installation under clear-sky conditions. ### Claim 16 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. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The utility control center of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise selecting the measurement device from a plurality of measurement devices located in the first geographical region based on a proximity between the measurement device and the photovoltaic installation. ### Claim 18 (depends on 16) The utility control center of claim 16, wherein computing the forecast comprises applying a predictive model that is trained based on historical power generation levels associated with the photovoltaic installation and historical data from the measurement device. ### Claim 19 (depends on 16) The utility control center of claim 16, wherein computing the forecast is further based on current weather conditions in the first geographical region. ### Claim 20 (depends on 16) The utility control center of claim 16, wherein the operations further comprise scaling at least one other electricity production up or down based on the forecast of the amount of power to be generated by the photovoltaic installation.