Applications of a shadow camera system for energy meteorology

Pascal Kuhn (1) , Stefan Wilbert (1) , Christoph Prahl (1) , Dominik Garsche (1) , David Schüler (1) , Thomas Haase (1) , Lourdes Ramírez (2) , Luis Zarzalejo (2) , Angela Meyer (3) , Philippe Blanc (4) , Robert Pitz-Paal (1)

1 DLR - German Aerospace Center
2 CIEMAT - Centro de Investigaciones Energéticas, Medioambientales y Tecnológicas
3 Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology MeteoSwiss
4 O.I.E. - Centre Observation, Impacts, Énergie

Downward-facing shadow cameras might play a major role in future energy meteorology. Shadow cameras directly image shadows on the ground from an elevated position. They are used to validate other systems (e.g. all-sky imager based nowcasting systems, cloud speed sensors or satellite forecasts) and can potentially provide short term forecasts for solar power plants. Such forecasts are needed for electricity grids with high penetrations of renewable energy and can help to optimize plant operations. In this publication, two key applications of shadow cameras are briefly presented.

Domaines: Energétique

Pascal Kuhn, Stefan Wilbert, Christoph Prahl, Dominik Garsche, David Schüler, et al.. Applications of a shadow camera system for energy meteorology. 17th EMS Annual Meeting: European Conference for Applied Meteorology and Climatology , Sep 2017, Dublin, Ireland. pp.11 - 14, ⟨10.5194/asr-15-11-2018⟩. ⟨hal-01735985⟩