At-A-Glance:
Forecasting the weather takes on a whole new level of importance as more renewables come online and utilities deal with ever-changing weather patterns.
Key Takeaways:
- Increased solar and wind generation capacity challenges conventional ways of managing supply and demand
- Sophisticated algorithms and third-parties play a critical role in weather forecasting
- Flexibility and energy storage are key components helping utilities adapt and adjust to weather changes
Path to 100% Perspective:
Weather-tracking algorithms do provide grid operators up-to-the-minute information on how much wind and solar energy are entering the grid, though big challenges remain as more volatile intermittent weather conditions are forcing a need for more advanced grid modelling. The challenges of balancing supply & demand, solutions, and more can be found in an article we’re reading from Utility Dive called “How grid operators forecast weather and output from renewables.”