Analysis of Variations in Instantaneous Weather Effects
- $242k Funded by ARENA
- $521k Total project cost
Summary
This project has developed innovative strategies for the distribution of mature, commercialised PV technologies within existing electricity networks, and in particular identified that up to 10MW of distributed solar PV could be installed within the Alice Springs grid.
Key results
The project identified that up to 10MW of additional distributed solar PV could be installed on the Alice Springs grid without impacting on network variability. It also found that Geographic dispersal of PV can effectively mitigate the variability of solar PV within a network.
Need
Integration issues, caused by the inability of baseload electricity generators to respond quickly to variations in grid-connected solar electricity caused by localised weather effects, have been identified as the main factor preventing a large increase in the number of grid-connected solar power generators.
An increased understanding of the impacts and management of large amounts of solar photovoltaic (PV) energy being introduced into existing electricity networks is needed to address this.
Learn more
Report: Investigating the Impact of Solar Variability on Grid Stability
This project examined the effect of weather on distributed solar PV, in order to determine how much l PV could be installed within a network without impacting grid stability.
Media Release: NT Study Finds Reliable Way to Feed Extra Solar PV into the Grid
ARENA released a study that shows how up to 10MW of extra solar photovoltaic (PV) could be installed in the Alice Springs grid without adversely affecting supply stability.
Project innovation
This project has developed innovative strategies for the distribution of mature, commercialised PV technologies within existing electricity networks.
Using a network of solar monitoring stations the project developed an improved estimate for the maximum number of solar power generators that can be connected to the electricity grid without energy storage, taking into account the generators’ distribution across the geographical area of the grid.
Benefit
The analysis carried out by this project will increase the confidence with which large amounts of solar energy can be integrated into electricity networks.
The data collection and analysis is of immediate relevance to solar projects that are currently being planned in the Northern Territory and other parts of Australia.
The findings will also increase the confidence with which performance-based Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs) can be formulated, and have the potential to help lower costs for green power generation.
