Solar resources and forecasts for integration of solar energy into the power grid and the energy market
The goal of the DLR sub-project of SOLREV is the investigation and evaluation of models for providing solar radiation data and forecasts to support the integration of large volumes of solar energy into the grid and to ensure the long-term yields of solar power plants and facilitate German participation in IEA PVPS Task 16.
Duration: November 2019 bis Oktober 2023
Funded by: Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
Project Participants: Institut für Vernetzte Energiesysteme Institut für Solarforschung Fraunhofer Institut für Solare Energiesysteme CSP Services GmbH Deutscher Wetterdienst DWD TenneT TSO GmbH Amprion GmbH 50Hertz Transmission GmbH Transnet BW GmbH
Project Manager at the Insttiute of Networked Energy Systems: Carsten Hoyer-Klick
Project description: Many years of reliable solar radiation data are required to reduce the business risk of large solar power plants requiring high investment costs, and to increase willingness to invest in such projects. Solar power forecasts are the foundation of optimised use of energy management options such as provision of balancing power, energy storage and optimised electricity trading processes. Such forecasts are therefore indispensable for the economically and environmentally sound integration of PV electricity into the electricity system. Against the backdrop of the associated rapid development of the research landscape in the areas of “solar resources and forecasts”, there is a tremendous need for transparent evaluations of these new developments.
Guidelines and standards are needed as the basis for purposeful model development as is the effective use of suitable data sets. This need is addressed within the submitted project. The overall goal of the sub-project is to evaluate, investigate and optimise models and data sets relating to solar radiation and forecasting in collaboration with the consortium partners and in close cooperation with the German transmission system operators, who are supporting the project as associated partners. The topic of “solar forecasting” is also addressed in IEA PVPS Task 16 “Solar resource for high penetration and large scale applications” with roughly 50 partners from 17 countries. An extension of the task by three additional years until 30 June 2023 is in planning. This submitted project would enable Germany to participate in IEA PVPS Task 16 with a lead role in sub-task 1.