A forecast engine generates a clear-sky solar power generation level corresponding to a photovoltaic installation that resides within a geographical area. The clear-sky solar power generation level indicates an amount of electricity generated by the photovoltaic installation under clear-sky conditions. The forecast engine also generates a measurement device index corresponding to a measurement device that resides proximate to the photovoltaic installation. The measurement device index indicates an amount of cloud cover present at the location where the measurement device resides. The forecast engine then generates a solar power generation forecast for the geographical area based on the clear-sky solar power generation level and the measurement device index.

A forecast engine generates a clear-sky solar power generation level corresponding to a photovoltaic installation that resides within a geographical area. The clear-sky solar power generation level indicates an amount of electricity generated by the photovoltaic installation under clear-sky conditions. The forecast engine also generates a measurement device index corresponding to a measurement device that resides proximate to the photovoltaic installation. The measurement device index indicates an amount of cloud cover present at the location where the measurement device resides. The forecast engine then generates a solar power generation forecast for the geographical area based on the clear-sky solar power generation level and the measurement device index.

A system and method for seasonal energy consumption determination using verified energy loads with the aid of a digital computer are provided. A digital computer is operated, including: obtaining energy loads for a building measured over a seasonal time period; obtaining outdoor temperatures for the building as measured over the seasonal time period; verifying stability of the energy loads, including: evaluating the energy loads over time; and identifying at least one of one or more discontinuities and one or more irregularities in the energy loads based on the evaluation. Operating the computer further includes: determining a baseload energy consumption using at least some of those of the energy loads; calculating seasonal fuel consumption rates and balance point temperatures; and disaggregating seasonal fuel consumption based on the baseload energy consumption, seasonal fuel consumption rates, balance point temperatures, and at least some of the outdoor temperatures into component loads of consumption.

A system and method for seasonal energy consumption determination using verified energy loads with the aid of a digital computer are provided. A digital computer is operated, including: obtaining energy loads for a building measured over a seasonal time period; obtaining outdoor temperatures for the building as measured over the seasonal time period; verifying stability of the energy loads, including: evaluating the energy loads over time; and identifying at least one of one or more discontinuities and one or more irregularities in the energy loads based on the evaluation. Operating the computer further includes: determining a baseload energy consumption using at least some of those of the energy loads; calculating seasonal fuel consumption rates and balance point temperatures; and disaggregating seasonal fuel consumption based on the baseload energy consumption, seasonal fuel consumption rates, balance point temperatures, and at least some of the outdoor temperatures into component loads of consumption.

The accuracy of photovoltaic simulation modeling is predicated upon the selection of a type of solar resource data appropriate to the form of simulation desired. Photovoltaic power simulation requires irradiance data. Photovoltaic energy simulation requires normalized irradiation data. Normalized irradiation is not always available, such as in photovoltaic plant installations where only point measurements of irradiance are sporadically collected or even entirely absent. Normalized irradiation can be estimated through several methodologies, including assuming that normalized irradiation simply equals irradiance, directly estimating normalized irradiation, applying linear interpolation to irradiance, applying linear interpolation to clearness index values, and empirically deriving irradiance weights. The normalized irradiation can then be used to forecast photovoltaic fleet energy production.

The accuracy of photovoltaic simulation modeling is predicated upon the selection of a type of solar resource data appropriate to the form of simulation desired. Photovoltaic power simulation requires irradiance data. Photovoltaic energy simulation requires normalized irradiation data. Normalized irradiation is not always available, such as in photovoltaic plant installations where only point measurements of irradiance are sporadically collected or even entirely absent. Normalized irradiation can be estimated through several methodologies, including assuming that normalized irradiation simply equals irradiance, directly estimating normalized irradiation, applying linear interpolation to irradiance, applying linear interpolation to clearness index values, and empirically deriving irradiance weights. The normalized irradiation can then be used to forecast photovoltaic fleet energy production.

Infrared cloud detector systems and methods for detecting cloud cover conditions.

Infrared cloud detector systems and methods for detecting cloud cover conditions.

The present invention concerns a method for determining the solar distribution in an area, the comprising: a phase for collecting data to form a training database, a phase for training a model on the basis of the training database to obtain a trained model, the input of the trained model being an image of an area seen from the sky and the output being a global cartography of the irradiance projected on each surface of the area imaged on the input image, a phase for operating the trained model comprising: a step of receiving an image of an area seen from the sky, and a step of determining by the trained model a global cartography of the irradiance projected on each surface of the area imaged on the received image.

The present invention concerns a method for determining the solar distribution in an area, the comprising: a phase for collecting data to form a training database, a phase for training a model on the basis of the training database to obtain a trained model, the input of the trained model being an image of an area seen from the sky and the output being a global cartography of the irradiance projected on each surface of the area imaged on the input image, a phase for operating the trained model comprising: a step of receiving an image of an area seen from the sky, and a step of determining by the trained model a global cartography of the irradiance projected on each surface of the area imaged on the received image.