This report provides an update on Solcast’s aim to enhance existing weather forecast services by developing a proof of concept demonstration of a forecasting tool which will track and predict renewable output in real time.
Report extract
Solcast is a global solar data services company specialising in satellite-based measurement and forecasting of solar irradiance and solar production, with offices in Sydney, Glasgow and Canberra.
Our vision is a solar future – we’re dedicated to developing the data and tools needed to plan, construct, operate and manage solar power systems across the world. The Solcast API is trusted by more than 7,000 users, with data for over 1,000,000 locations around the globe.
Formed in early 2016, Solcast is the culmination of several years of work by co-founders James Luffman and Dr Nick Engerer and their team, who saw tremendous opportunity to approach solar modelling and forecasting from their perspectives as meteorologists working with the electricity sector.
In this ARENA funded project, Solcast aims to enhance existing weather forecast services by developing a proof of concept demonstration of a forecasting tool which will track and predict renewable output in real time. Solcast’s forecasting tool will aim to predict up to six hours ahead in five-minute increments, distributed into 1-2km grids across SA.
Solcast will track the real-time evolution of weather systems over SA and forecast the positions and characteristics of cloud cover, as well as improve predictions of wind-speeds at the wind turbine nacelles (above ground) enabling energy generation to be forecast with greater accuracy. The forecasts will also focus on six hour ahead forecasting to provide more accurate information for grid operation and enhanced management of generation, energy storage, and demand response.
Solcast will utilise a range of data sets and data streams, including historical surface meteorological measurement data and wind and solar farm weather data, to develop high quality forecasts. These forecasts will be shared via project partners, Weatherzone and Tesla Asia Pacific, to be assessed and used by the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO), the local distribution network operator (SA Power Networks), and generator asset operators.
