Task 46: Highlights 2015
May 2016 - PDF 0.26MB
Knowledge of solar energy resources is critical when designing, financing, and operating successful solar water heating systems, concentrating solar power systems, and photovoltaic systems. However, due to their dependence on weather phenomena the energy output from these technologies can be highly variable, especially in situations where storage is not available to smooth out this variability. Accurate solar resource assessment and reliable solar power forecasting are important tools not only for system design and operation, but also for system financing.

Task 46 Highlights 2014
February 2015 - PDF 1.02MB
Knowledge of solar energy resources is critical when designing, building and operating successful solar water heating systems, concentrating solar power systems, and photovoltaic systems. However, due to their dependence on weather phenomena the energy output from these technologies can be highly variable, especially in situations where storage is not available to smooth out this variability. Accurate solar resource assessment and reliable solar power forecasting are important tools not only for system design, but also for system operators in matching loads at any given time with the solar energy technologies available. Reliable solar data and data products are essential for optimizing the value of these technologies in meeting clean energy goals and lowering the overall cost of energy.

Task 46 Highlights 2013
Solar Resource Assessment and Forecasting
February 2014 - PDF 0.35MB
Knowledge of solar energy resources is critical when designing, building and operating successful solar water heating systems, concentrating solar power systems, and photovoltaic systems. However, due to their dependence on weather phenomena the energy output from these technologies can be highly variable, especially in situations where storage is not available to smooth out this variability. Accurate solar resource assessment and reliable solar power forecasting are important tools not only for system design, but also for system operators in matching loads at any given time with the solar energy technologies available. Reliable solar data and data products are essential for optimizing the value of these technologies in meeting clean energy goals and lowering the overall cost of energy.

Task 46 Highlights 2012
January 2013 - PDF 0.23MB

Knowledge of solar energy resources is critical when designing, building and operating successful solar water heating systems, concentrating solar power systems, and photovoltaic systems. However, due to their dependence on weather phenomena the energy output from these technologies can be highly variable, especially in situations where storage is not available to smooth out this variability. High penetrations of these technologies will then require utilities to be able to predict their availability to meet varying load demands. Solar resource and solar power forecasting is an important tool being made available to system operators to assist them in matching load fluctuations with the solar energy technologies available to them, thereby optimizing the value of these technologies in meeting clean energy goals.