Time series model for real-time forecasting of Australian photovoltaic solar farms power output

Intermittent electrical power output from grid-connected solar farms causes intermittent and uncertain requirements for dispatchable power to balance power supply and demand. Accurate forecasting of electrical power output from solar farms can improve managing power generators connected to the grid. To forecast the electrical power output, a time series model is developed for two solar farms in Australia. The forecast model consists of a Fourier series that models seasonality and an autoregressive moving-average component that models the difference between the observed electrical power outputs and the Fourier series. Persistence detection is added to the model to improve forecast performance on clear days. Using minutely data, the model forecasts the electrical power output seven minutes ahead at every five-minute interval to comply with the requirements of the Australian Energy Market Operator (AEMO). Based on a 30-day testing period, the normalized mean absolute error (NMAE) skills of the time series model are 10.9% and 13.2% lower than those of the clear sky index persistence (CSIP) model. However, the normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE) skills of the time series model are approximately 3% and 12% higher than those of CSIP and the model currently used by AEMO, respectively. As the NRMSE skills are more indicative than the NMAE skills in reducing large forecast errors that would reduce electricity grid stability, the results suggest that AEMO can improve the management of the electricity grid with an inexpensive tool by adopting the developed model to forecast electrical power output of solar farms.