Arizona public power utility Salt River Project has installed a second sky camera at its Copper Crossing Energy and Research Center to support solar integration, it said on Oct. 29. SRP was the first utility in the country to use these cameras.
The cameras have made SRP's solar forecasting -- predictions on future solar energy generation -- more accurate, based on preliminary research conducted in partnership with Arizona State University.
The cameras are angled toward the sky and continuously capture photos and transmit data in real time on cloud velocity and height, sun positioning and solar irradiance.
This information helps SRP better analyze how much solar energy is available now and is likely to be available in the near term. This helps the utility determine what other energy resources are needed to support reliability.
While solar measurement during summer is important, measuring and predicting irradiance during weather events is essential to maintaining a balanced grid. As the Valley prepares for a potential Super El Niño weather pattern this winter, these cameras will be critical, SRP said.
With more exact measurements, SRP can better plan its resource mix and ensure a balanced grid as part of its all-the-above approach to power generation.
SRP has more than 3,000 MW of carbon-free resources available to serve customers, which include over 1,620 MW of solar and more than 1,570 MW of battery storage supporting its grid.
