Transient weather conditions often decrease the deliverable output power of photovoltaic (PV) arrays and threaten the ability of the PV array to provide power to meet load demands, which leads to utility companies to provide backup energy sources to supplement the remaining demand. The switch from PV to backup power is not instantaneous, so it is important to predict the PV system output power to prevent energy shortages. We refined an ambient light sensor system to predict this output power. The system uses measured irradiance to compute cloud motion parameters such as cloud size, speed, and direction, to predict changes in power generation due to cloud cover. The system will enable grid operators to better understand the effects of PV power variability on the grid.

• This report represents the work of one or more WPI undergraduate students submitted to the faculty as evidence of completion of a degree requirement. WPI routinely publishes these reports on its website without editorial or peer review.

Creator

• Lewis, Timothy
• Ferreira, Jonathan
• Sauter, Evan

Subject

• Energy
• Innovation

Publisher

• Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Identifier

• E-project-032522-102444
• 53961

Advisor

• Mughal, Maqsood Ali

Year

• 2022

Sponsor

• MassClean Energy Center

UN Sustainable Development Goals

• 7 - Affordable and Clean Energy

Date created

• 2022-03-25

Resource type

• Major Qualifying Project

Major

• Electrical & Computer Engineering

Rights statement

• In Copyright