New technologies and faster computers are allowing improvements in weather forecasting. Understanding short-term weather patterns are helping grid operators cut costs and carbon emissions while keeping the lights on
Deployment of artificial intelligence and supercomputers will help monitor cloud behaviour to deal with sudden changes to solar generation
UNEARTH PANELS Discovering the exact location of the distributed solar panels can help grid operators manage the grid and better predict dips in generation
JUST A MINUTE Forecasting software is being developed to help predict cloud movements and the effect this may have on the solar panels below minutes before it happens, allowing for greater flexibility
KEY QUOTE The more confidence we have in our forecasts, the less we’ll have to cover for uncertainty by keeping traditional, more controllable fossil fuel plants ticking over ...
Try FORESIGHT - 30 days for €29
Weather forecasts can bring down the cost and financial risks associated with new renewable energy infrastructure projects
Splitting the bill between water utilities and the city budget made financing Copenhagen’s cloudburst plan possible.
Network operators tasked with managing the steadily bigger swings in demand and supply that accompany greater uptake of solar and wind energy have had to choose between constraining clean generation, which adds to operating cost, or increasing grid capacity requiring capital expenditure. A less costly way is to buy system flexibility in a competitive but carefully coordinated process. Trials in areas of Britain challenged by grid constraints are producing encouraging results
How to integrate renewables into an energy system while keeping lights on
A start-up based in Scotland is confident it has found an affordable silver bullet to allow the world’s grids to deal with massive amounts of renewables, but system operators are not so sure