Salt River Project is testing out new camera technology, which it says will allow for more efficient solar power generation.
SRP hopes to reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. To stay on track toward that goal, the utility will need to triple its renewable power output by 2035. But adding more solar power to the grid means more variability in energy generation.
SRP renewable energy forecast analyst Sydney Butler said one challenge is clouds.
“Cloud forecasts are super difficult. It's really hard for weather models to resolve the timing and amount of clouds that you can get on a given day,” Butler said.
SRP’s new “sky cameras” can capture detailed images of the sky to measure sunlight intensity.
“Not only can you get the location of the cloud, but you can also get the height of the cloud and the speed of the cloud. And that can really improve the solar radiance forecast,” Butler said.
That allows the utility to respond more quickly if it needs to bring on other generation resources to make up for drops in solar generation.
“It really helps with the scheduling and planning process,” Butler said.
SRP has purchased two of the cameras for a pilot program. One camera is installed at SRP's Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center and the other one is currently being used by ASU researchers, but will be added to the Copper Crossing site soon, Butler said.
Butler said SRP is one of the first utilities to test the technology.
“Who knows? In the future if this improves the forecasts enough, then maybe that will be the new norm of having these cameras in addition to the weather stations that we have at our solar sites,” Butler said.
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