Research

Research

A Condensed Analysis of Firm Wind & Solar Power Generation in Nova Scotia
 |  January 2026

This report summarizes the key findings from a comprehensive study performed by Clean Power Research for Natural...

Localized, Cost-Effective, 100% Renewable Firm Power Generation
 |  November 2025

Recent International Energy Agency (IEA) studies demonstrate that it is possible to cost-effectively achieve firm...

On the Complementary Variability of the Solar and Wind Resources
 |  August 2025

This article evaluates and contrasts the variability of large-scale, distributed wind and PV generation across the...

Firm Wind and Solar Power Generation in Nova Scotia with Fully Electrified Transportation and Building Sectors
 |  March 2025

This report examines the feasibility and cost-effectiveness of firm renewable power generation in Nova Scotia under a...

Impact of PV/Wind Forecast Accuracy and National Transmission Grid Reinforcement on the Italian Electric System
 |  November 2022

The high share of PV energy requires greater system flexibility to address the increased demand/supply imbalance...

IRENA SolarCity
+  |  November 2022

This project combines ultra-high-resolution (0.5 meter or 1 meter) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) data and 3D vector...

IEA Task 16-3.5 Report: Firm Power Generation
 |  November 2022

Grid-connected solar power generation, either dispersed or centralized, has developed and grown at the margin of a...

Inferring PV system specifications from net load
+  |  June 2022

The increasing penetration of grid-connected solar photovoltaics has challenged the existing method of planning and...

Firm PV Power generation for Switzerland
 |  June 2022

We investigate whether photovoltaics (PV) can effectively and economically contribute to a massively renewable energy...

Firm PV Power Generation in Switzerland
 |  June 2022

We investigate whether PV can effectively and economically contribute to a massively renewable energy (RE) power...

Nonparametric Temporal Downscaling of GHI Clear-sky Indices Using Gaussian Copula
+  |  June 2022

Small-scale variabilities of solar irradiance are important for many applications. Downscaling approaches need to be...

Enhancing Temporal Variability of 5-minute Satellite-Derived Solar Irradiance Data
+  |  June 2022

Satellite-derived solar irradiance data are known to underestimate temporal variability compared to point measurements...

Update 2022 – A Fundamental Look at Supply Side Energy Reserves for the Planet
 |  March 2022

Energy on our planet is central to the functioning of our ecosystem and modern human society. This work attempts to...

A Review of Solar Forecasting, Its Dependence on Atmospheric Sciences and Implications for Grid Integration: Towards Carbon Neutrality
+  |  March 2022

The ability to forecast solar irradiance plays an indispensable role in solar power forecasting, which constitutes an...

IMPLICIT STORAGE – Optimally Achieving Lowest-Cost 100% Renewable Power generation
 |  October 2021

Implicit storage – aka overbuilt and operationally curtailed variable renewable energy (RE) resources – is a...

Quantifying the Solar Impacts of Wildfire Smoke in Western North America
 |  August 2021

2020 was the most active wildfire season in recent history. This study leverages solar models to quantify the solar...

Least-Cost Firm PV Power Generation: Dynamic Curtailment vs. Inverter-Limited Curtailment
 |  August 2021

Overbuilding and dynamic curtailment are increasingly acknowledged as central to cost-optimally transforming...

Residual Load Imbalance Mitigation Strategy via Flexible PV Ancillary Services: The Italian Case Study
+  |  July 2021

Large share of solar energy imposes a higher system flexibility to resolve the increased demand/supply imbalance due...

Ultra-High Photovoltaic Penetration: Where to Deploy
 |  July 2021

While it is widely known that the solar resource is sufficient to meet the world’s energy demand many times over, the...

Making the Cut with a Carbon Elimination Price: The Missing Piece to Bill Gates’ How to Avoid a Climate Disaster Book
 |  March 2021

In the book How to Avoid a Climate Disaster, Bill Gates begins to address the issue of how much it will cost to...

Italian Protocol for Massive Solar Integration: From Solar Imbalance Regulation to Firm 24/365 Solar Generation
 |  January 2021

This article describes a progressive strategy to achieve 100% penetration of intermittent renewables at minimal cost....

From Firm Solar Power Forecasts to Firm Solar Power Generation an Effective Path to Ultra-High Renewable Penetration a New York Case Study
+  |  August 2020

We introduce firm solar forecasts as a strategy to operate optimally overbuilt solar power plants in conjunction with...

The Value of PV Power Forecast and the Paradox of the “Single Pricing” Scheme: The Italian Case Study
+  |  August 2020

One of the major problem of photovoltaic grid integration is limiting the solar-induced imbalances since these can...

Verification of Deterministic Solar Forecasts
 |  May 2020

The field of energy forecasting has attracted many researchers from different fields (e.g., meteorology, data...

Italian Protocol for Massive Solar Integration: Imbalance Mitigation Strategies
 |  February 2020

This article proposes two strategies for the mitigation of power imbalances and related costs resulting from...

Perfect Operational Solar Forecasts: A Scalable Strategy toward Firm Power Generation
 |  November 2019

We present the perfect forecast concept as both an effective forecast validation metric and an operational strategy to...

Solar+ Homes: If an Integrated Approach Works in a Retrofit Application, New Homes Will Be Even Better
+  |  July 2019

This presentation demonstrates the effectiveness of an integrated approach to electrification of existing and new...

Value of Solar+Storage in Guam
+  |  July 2019

This report presents the results of a distributed-solar valuation performed for the island of Guam. The study used...

Montana Solar Market Assessment
+  |  July 2019

As part of the U.S. Department of Energy’s SunShot Initiative, the Montana Energy Office (MEO) of the Montana...

A Radical Idea to Get a High-Renewable Electric Grid: Build Way More Solar and Wind Than Needed
 |  May 2019

The famous inventor Edwin Land said, “It’s not that we need new ideas, but we need to stop having old ideas.” He...

Can We Gauge Forecasts Using Satellite-Derived Solar Irradiance?
 |  April 2019

Satellite-derived irradiance data, as an alternative to ground-based measurements, offer a unique opportunity to...

Overbuilding & Curtailment: The Cost-Effective Enablers of Firm PV Generation
 |  January 2019

Current thinking considers that PV output curtailment is a last resort measure to be avoided. In this article, we...

Importance of Input Data and Uncertainty Associated with Tuning Satellite to Ground Solar Irradiation
+  |  July 2016

Although the uncertainty of satellite data such as SolarAnywhere® Data has been shown to be low, it can be challenging...

Solar Energy Forecast Validation for Extended Areas & Economic Impact of Forecast Accuracy
+  |  July 2016

This article evaluates the accuracy of solar forecast models, including SolarAnywhere®, as a function of geographic...

Integration of Behind-the-Meter PV Fleet Forecasts into Utility Grid System Operations
+  |  May 2016

This paper describes a study, funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, to evaluate new, state-of-the-art solar...

Reducing Solar Project Uncertainty with an Optimized Resource Assessment Tuning Methodology
+  |  March 2016

This paper describes procedures suitable for the optimal combination of ground-based and satellite-based irradiance...

Valuation of Solar + Storage in Hawaii: Methodology
+  |  August 2015

Clean Power Research was engaged by the Interstate Renewable Energy Council, Inc. (IREC) to develop a methodology that...

Operational Improvements in the Performance of the SUNY Satellite-to-Solar Irradiance Model Using Satellite Infrared Channels
+  |  April 2015

This paper summarizes operational improvements to the existing SUNY satellite-to-solar irradiance model used to...

Experience in California with Behind-the-Meter PV Forecasts
+  |  July 2014

SolarAnywhere® FleetView™ is generating behind-the-meter PV forecasts in California, enabling utilities and ISOs to...

Integrating PV into Utility Planning and Operation Tools
+  |  July 2014

Clean Power Research received a California Solar Initiative (CSI) Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment...

Demonstration and Validation of PV Output Variability Modeling Approach
+  |  July 2014

The California Energy Commission’s Public Interest Energy Research (CEC PIER) program awarded Clean Power Research a...

CSI RD&D Solicitation 1 Final Webinar: Advanced Modeling and Verification for High Penetration PV
+  |  May 2014

In April 2010, Clean Power Research received a California Solar Initiative (CSI) Research, Development, Demonstration...

CSI RD&D Solicitation 3 Final Webinar: Integrating PV into Utility Planning and Operation Tools
+  |  May 2014

Clean Power Research received a California Solar Initiative (CSI) Research, Development, Demonstration and Deployment...

Advanced Modeling and Verification for High Penetration PV
+  |  May 2014

In April 2010, Clean Power Research received a California Solar Initiative (CSI) Research, Development, Demonstration...

Minnesota Value of Solar: Methodology
 |  March 2014

The Value of Solar methodology developed on behalf of the Minnesota Department of Commerce, and approved by the...

Experience in California with Behind-the-Meter PV Forecasts
 |  February 2014

SolarAnywhere® FleetView® is generating behind-the-meter PV forecasts in California, enabling utilities and ISOs to...

Managing the Distributed Solar Fleet: From Interconnection to Fleet Operations
+  |  October 2013

Bringing incentive and interconnection management online allows utilities to streamline processing and capture PV...

2014 Value of Solar at Austin Energy
 |  October 2013

This report and presentation summarizes a Value of Solar® study conducted for Austin Energy in the fall of 2013....

Behind-the-Meter PV Fleet Forecasting: Results for 130,000 PV Systems in California
+  |  April 2013

Lean how SolarAnywhere® FleetView™ is being integrated into CAISO planning and operations tools to provide power...

Behind-the-Meter PV Fleet Forecasting
+  |  March 2013

Grid-connected PV in the U.S. has grown substantially over the past several years and grid operators are increasingly...

The Value of Distributed Solar Electric Generation to San Antonio
+  |  March 2013

This Value of Solar® study was prepared for Solar San Antonio under a Department of Energy SunShot Initiative grant....

The Value of Distributed Solar Electric Generation to New Jersey and Pennsylvania
 |  November 2012

This Value of Solar® study was prepared for the Mid-Atlantic Solar Energy Industries Association (MSEIA) and the...

Photovoltaic Incentive Design Handbook
+  |  June 2012

This handbook will help agencies and utilities select, design, and implement incentive programs that best meet...

Reporting of Irradiance Model Relative Errors
+  |  March 2012

Metrics used in assessing irradiance model accuracy such as Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error...

Off-Shore Wind and Grid-Connected PV: High Penetration Peak Shaving for New York City
+  |  March 2012

This article presents an experimental evaluation of the combined effective capacity of off-shore wind and...

Solar Power Generation in the US: Too Expensive or a Bargain?
+  |  March 2012

This article identifies the combined value that solar electric power plants deliver to utilities’ rate payers and...

Solar Resource Variability: Myth & Fact
 |  March 2012

Examines short-term solar resource variability caused by passing clouds. View Article >>>

The Benefits of Distributed Resources to Local Governments: An Introduction
 |  March 2012

Examines how local governments can benefit from and encourage the use of distributed resources. Download PDF...

Evaluating Irradiance Accuracy Using California ISO Data: Lessons Learned
+  |  February 2012

This presentation provides the results of a study evaluating the short, medium and long-term accuracy of irradiance...

Determining Storage Reserves for Regulating Solar Variability
 |  November 2011

This paper describes the initial validation of a method of quantifying PV variability by using satellite-derived solar...

Modeling PV Fleet Output Variability
+  |  May 2011

This paper introduces a novel approach to estimating the maximum short‐term output variability that an arbitrary fleet...

Designing Austin Energy’s Solar Tariff Using a Distributed PV Calculator
 |  March 2011

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Valuing a Portfolio of PV Investments
+  |  October 2010

This presentation describes the importance of PV output variability as a factor in calculating the value of a fleet of...

Validation of Short & Medium Term Operational Solar Radiation Forecasts in the U.S.
+  |  August 2010

This paper presents a validation of the short- and medium-term global irradiance forecasts that are produced as part...

Validation of PV Performance Models Using Satellite-based Irradiance Measurements: A Case Study
+  |  May 2010

This paper presents a study of how PV performance model results are affected when satellite-based weather data is used...

Weather Adjusted Performance Guarantees
+  |  May 2010

This paper describes how to generate more accurate Weather-Adjusted Performance Guarantees for PV systems using a...

Market Transformation Benefits of a PV Incentive Program
+  |  May 2010

Real-life example of the economics of implementing a PV incentive program Download PDF >>>

Quantifying the Cost of High Photovoltaic Penetration
 |  May 2010

Calculating the cost of energy storage to provide firm capacity on a power grid with high PV penetration. Download PDF...

The CA Net Energy Metering Report: Approach, Results & Implications
 |  April 2010

The steps required to compute the costs and benefits of electric rates that use net energy metering. Download PDF...

Solar Sustained Vehicles: A Consumer’s Solution to Protection in an Age of Oil Dependence, Economic Uncertainty, & Global Warming
+  |  November 2008

A consumer’s view of the fuel saving benefits of Solar Sustained Vehicles. Download PDF >>>

Expected Performance Based Buydown (EPBB) Incentive Structure: Rationale & Implications
 |  May 2006

Rationale for using an up-front incentive payment structure Download PDF >>>

Maximizing the Value of Customer-Sited PV Systems Using Storage & Controls
 |  January 2005

Enhancing the load management and outage protection attributes of PV to increase the value of customer-sited PV...

Economic Benefits of Performance-Based Incentives
 |  July 2004

Compares the economic consequences of performance-based and buy-down PV incentives Download PDF >>>

Are Photovoltaic Systems Worth More to Residential Consumers on Net Metered Time-of-Use Rates?
 |  January 2004

Examination of the value of PV to residential customers under Time-of-Use rates. Download PDF >>>

A Simple Method for Consumers to Address Uncertainty When Purchasing Photovoltaics
 |  September 2003

Should consumers invest in PV now, or wait? Download PDF >>>

Maximizing PV peak shaving with solar load control: validation of a web-based economic evaluation tool
 |  August 2003

Calculating the value of solar load control for commercial applications using Clean Power Estimator. Download PDF...

Reduce, Reuse, Renew: One Possible Approach to Cut Carbon Emissions
 |  July 2000

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Clean Distributed Resources in the U.S. Residential Market
 |  November 1999

Examines how PV combined with energy efficiency and cogeneration fuel cells can satisfy the energy needs of the U.S....

A Micro-Grid with PV, Fuel Cells and Energy Efficiency
+  |  June 1998

This article provides an evaluation of the economic potential of a micro-grid composed of PV, fuel cells and energy...

Integrating Renewable Energy Technologies in the Electric Supply Industry: A Risk Management Approach
 |  June 1997

Identifies the renewable energy technology risks to utilities, and how to mitigate those risks Download PDF...

Managing Risk Using Renewable Energy Technologies
 |  January 1997

Explains how owning renewable energy technologies can mitigate risk faced by the electric utility industry Download...

Blog

Reduce uncertainty with higher-resolution typical year solar resource data
Feb 15, 2024
Reduce uncertainty with higher-resolution typical year solar resource data

Typical year irradiance datasets (TGY, TDY) summarize solar resource at a location. This data is generated to reflect the most probable (P50) monthly total irradiance, based on a long history of solar resource. SolarAnywhere calculates typical year data from a maximum span of time-series observations for each region—more than twenty-five years in many areas. Our […]

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Leading electric utilities choose Clean Power Research
Jan 10, 2024
Leading electric utilities choose Clean Power Research

Clean Power Research is honored to take a leading role in utility and energy agency digitalization initiatives On behalf of the entire team at Clean Power Research, I wish our utility and energy agency customers a Happy New Year and thank you for a great 2023. We’re...

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