Armed with a $1.8 million award from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) plans to develop and demonstrate new methods to operate power systems with high penetrations of solar power.

Under the Operational Probabilistic Tools for Solar Uncertainty project, EPRI will develop improved probabilistic solar power forecasts for both utility-scale and distributed solar systems. The initiative also includes designing advanced use cases for probabilistic forecasts through detailed simulation of power system operations for three energy companies. Another element entails demonstrating a scheduling management platform that enables the integration of forecasts into operations.

Using actual data from the energy companies — Hawaiian Electric, Duke Energy and Southern Company — the research will develop a platform that enables new power system operating methods and tools.

The award is part of DOE’s Solar Forecasting 2 Funding program to advance predictive modeling capabilities for solar generation for more accurate forecasts of solar generation levels. Solar Forecasting 2 projects are designed to enable electric utilities to better manage the variability and uncertainty of solar power and improve grid reliability.