New Forecasting Capabilities for Forecasting Solar and Wind Generation
December 05, 2022
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Itron recently announced that the latest version of MetrixIDR (version 7.2) includes two new modules: the Model Specification Module and the Distributed Energy Resource (DER) Module. The two modules together enable users to configure solar and wind generation models, alleviating the need for building custom MetrixND model templates for solar and wind generation. The Model Specification Module allows the user to define model specifications or “templates” for solar fixed panel models or single equation wind direction models. These can then be used for any number of individual models configured in the DER Module.
For Solar Fixed Panel Models, users can assign drivers for solar capacity and solar panel shading (as a fraction of the panel surface that is shaded by the time of day). Additional parameters include information regarding the solar panels: panel tilt and orientation and inverter efficiencies (by interval). Users can also specify operational efficiency at high and low temperatures with the following parameters:
Temperature Break Average High specifies the temperature above which the performance of the solar system being modeled degrades.
Temperature Impact High specifies the impact per degree above the indicated threshold.
Conversely, parameters are also available for Temperature Break Average Low and Temperature Impact Low. Users can optionally calibrate the model to clear-sky days when available Cloud Cover is not for the precise location of the solar resource. When calibration is used, users can additionally infer the cloud albedo from the available data.
The Solar Fixed Panel SAE Model computes a single equation for each interval of the day. The engineering estimate of solar generation calculated from the weather data and equipment parameters is regressed on the generation data with the coefficient providing an estimate of the correlation between the engineering equation and the generation data.
For Wind Generation Models, users can assign a driver for wind capacity. Additional parameters include information regarding the typical wind turbine at the wind site: unit size, wind blade length, and coefficients of power at various wind speeds. Users can optionally specify an autoregressive structure for the model, customize the number of intervals back and interact lags with the time of day.
There is no additional software license fee for MetrixIDR customers on a current maintenance contract to acquire the new Model Specification and DER Modules, however professional services are required for implementation and to upgrade your system. Read more about MetrixIDR and other forecasting solutions on our website at www.itron.com/forecasting. Ready to upgrade or want to implement a new system? Contact us at forecasting@itron.com.
Jennifer is a Senior Forecast Consultant with Itron’s Forecasting Division. She is responsible for managing automated demand forecasting system implementations and system upgrades. She is actively involved in the management process from beginning to end, including gathering requirements, system design, implementation, installation, and client software support. She has implemented automated demand forecasting systems for over 25 utilities, energy retailers, and ISO clients.
She has demonstrated expertise in Itron’s forecasting tools, forecasting problems, and software development process, and has strong technical and data manipulation and management skills, including the use of SQL Server and Oracle databases and VBA scripting. She is involved with software development projects associated with enhancements to Itron’s automated demand forecasting system and Itron’s Forecasting as a Service offerings. As a liaison between Itron's forecasting clients and the software development team, she assists with the prioritization of new features and software bugs. In coordination with Itron forecasting staff, she manages releases of Itron's automated demand forecasting software to meet project deadlines.
She also manages software support for Itron’s forecasting software for clients in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. With a strong understanding of statistical modeling and linear regression techniques used for energy load forecasting, she provides both software and model support to Itron's forecasting clients.
Jennifer received her B.A. in Economics with a minor in Mathematics from the University of California, San Diego.
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