By Pete Danko | Earth Techling
The forecast is looking better for getting more solar energy onto the grid and at lower cost, scientists at the National Center for Atmospheric Research say.
A team at the federally funded research and development center in Boulder, Colorado is embarking on a three-year project aimed at giving solar power plant and grid operators three-day forecasts that break down expected sunlight and power production by 15-minute increments.
“It’s critical for utility managers to know how much sunlight will be reaching solar energy plants in order to have confidence that they can supply sufficient power when their customers need it,” Sue Ellen Haupt, director of NCAR’s Weather Systems and Assessment Program and the lead researcher on the solar energy project, said in a statement. “These detailed cloud and irradiance forecasts are a vital step in using more energy from the sun.”
Also:
Kansas Legislature Rejects Koch-Backed Effort To Chip Away At Renewable Energy Standards
If you’d like to discuss energy issues, contact Court Rich, Co-Chair of Rose Law Group’s Renewable Energy Department at crich@roselawgroup.com
