Method And Apparatus For Forecasting Solar Radiation And Solar Power Production Using Synthetic Irradiance Imaging

摘要

In an embodiment, measurements are simulated of direct normal irradiance, diffuse horizontal and global horizontal irradiance from groups of two or more photovoltaic arrays and/or irradiance sensors which are located in close proximity to each other and which have different tilt and azimuth angles. Irradiance measurements derived from solar power system power measurements are combined with measurements made by irradiance sensors to synthesize an image of ground level global horizontal irradiance which can be used to create a vector describing motion of that image of irradiance in an area of interest. A sequence of these irradiance images can be transformed into a time series from which a motion vector can be derived. The motion vector can be applied to a current image of ground level irradiance and that image can be projected to a future point in time to provide a solar radiation forecast. These forecasts can be converted into forecasts of solar power system power in the area of interest.