Foundations and Trends® in Renewable Energy > Vol 1 > Issue 1

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Solar Energy

By Richard Perez, University at Albany, SUNY, USA, rperez@albany.edu | Mathieu David, University of La Réunion, France, mathieu.david@univ-reunion.fr | Thomas E. Hoff, Clean Power Research, USA, tomhoff@cleanpower.com | Mohammad Jamaly, University of California, USA, smjamaly@ucsd.edu | Sergey Kivalov, University at Albany, SUNY, USA, skivalov@albany.edu | Jan Kleissl, University of California, USA, jkleissl@ucsd.edu | Philippe Lauret, University of La Réunion, France, philippe.lauret@univ-reunion.fr | Marc Perez, MGH-Energy, France, mjp2167@columbia.edu

 
Suggested Citation
Richard Perez, Mathieu David, Thomas E. Hoff, Mohammad Jamaly, Sergey Kivalov, Jan Kleissl, Philippe Lauret and Marc Perez (2016), "Spatial and Temporal Variability of Solar Energy", Foundations and Trends® in Renewable Energy: Vol. 1: No. 1, pp 1-44. http://dx.doi.org/10.1561/2700000006

Publication Date: 29 Jul 2016
© 2016 R. Perez, M. David, T. E. Hoff, M. Jamaly, S. Kivalov, J. Kleissl, P. Lauret, and M. Perez
 
Subjects
Integration of renewable energy sources,  Renewable energy technologies,  Systems
 

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In this article:
1. Introduction 
2. Quantifying Intermittency 
3. Variability Mitigation — Spatial and Temporal Effects 
4. Application Models and Tools 
5. Spatio-temporal Kriging — A Practical Approach to Infer Underlying Situational Space-time Variability 
6. Implications for Power Grid Management 
7. Conclusions 
Acknowledgements 
References 

Abstract

This monograph summarizes and analyzes recent research by the authors and others to understand, characterize, and model solar resource variability. This research shows that understanding solar energy variability requires a definition of the temporal and spatial context for which variability is assessed; and describes a predictable, quantifiable variability-smoothing space-time continuum from a single point to thousands of kilometers and from seconds to days. Implications for solar penetration on the power grid and variability mitigation strategies are discussed.

DOI:10.1561/2700000006
ISBN: 978-1-68083-152-8
58 pp. $50.00
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ISBN: 978-1-68083-153-5
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Table of contents:
1. Introduction
2. Quantifying Intermittency
3. Variability Mitigation — Spatial and Temporal Effects
4. Application Models and Tools
5. Spatio-temporal Kriging — A Practical Approach to Infer Underlying Situational Space-time Variability
6. Implications for Power Grid Management
7. Conclusions
Acknowledgements
References

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Solar Energy

Unlike conventional electrical power generation (such as fossil or nuclear enevery), solar energy is intermittent. The output of a solar power plant is driven by weather and by the cycle of days and seasons. It varies from zero to full power outside the control of plant operators.

Spatial and Temporal Variability of Solar Energy summarizes and analyzes recent research by the authors and others to understand, characterize, and model solar resource variability. This research shows that understanding solar energy variability requires a definition of the temporal and spatial context for which variability is assessed; and describes a predictable, quantifiable variability-smoothing space-time continuum from a single point to thousands of kilometers and from seconds to days. It also discusses the implications for solar penetration on the power grid and variability mitigation strategies.

 
REN-006