PhD defence

Every Ray Counts!

Enabling large-scale solar PV integration by smart-grid applications combining fine-resolution meteorology and grid management.

PhD candidate Frank FPM (Frank) Kreuwel MSc
Promotor dr.ir. CC (Chiel) van Heerwaarden
Co-promotor prof.dr. J (Jordi) Vila-Guerau de Arellano
Organisation Wageningen University, Meteorology and Air Quality
Date

Tue 11 April 2023 16:00 to 17:30

Venue Omnia, building number 105
Hoge Steeg 2
105
6708 PH Wageningen
+31 (0) 317 - 484500
Room Auditorium

Summary

The use of solar panels is growing quickly, but they can't always be added to the power grid easily because solar energy is unpredictable and has high peaks. This makes it tough to use solar energy systems on a large scale. By providing accurate solar energy forecasts, smart-grid technologies can be applied, allow additional solar panels to be installed on homes, businesses and in solar parks.

This thesis is about combining high-resolution meteorology and solar PV grid integration. The results cover four topics: 1. Quantifying the variability of irradiance and PV generation in relation to grid, 2. Providing a detailed analysis of PV-driven overvoltage events in the grid, 3. Tailoring weather forecasts to meet solar energy grid integration requirements, 4. Assessing impact of inaccurate weather forecasts during operational congestion management.

As a result, this work helps to bring together the knowledge from meteorology and grid management, to tackle the challenges of the energy transition.