Impact of Solar Eclipse on Utility Grid Operations

摘要

Solar eclipse is viewed as a volatile meteorological condition in electric power grids with Photovoltaics (PV) penetration. The impact of the U.S. August 21, 2017 solar eclipse on control center operations associated with a large PV plant has been investigated and compared with normal day operations. The utility-scale PV plant simulated using a real-time digital simulator and receiving real-time weather data measurements from the weather monitoring station at Clemson University, South Carolina has been studied. The open challenge utilities are facing nowadays with increasing penetration of PV in the grid has been illustrated. The insights of this study can be used by utilities for planning and operational studies.