US 12,242,022 B2
System and method for estimating photovoltaic energy through empirical derivation with the aid of a digital computer
Thomas E. Hoff, Napa, CA (US)
Assigned to CLEAN POWER RESEARCH, L.L.C., Napa, CA (US)
Filed by Clean Power Research, L.L.C., Napa, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 3, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/346,594.
Application 18/346,594 is a continuation of application No. 17/328,688, filed on May 24, 2021, granted, now 11,693,152.
Application 17/328,688 is a continuation of application No. 15/930,259, filed on May 12, 2020, granted, now 11,016,130, issued on May 25, 2021.
Application 15/930,259 is a continuation of application No. 16/429,534, filed on Jun. 3, 2019, granted, now 10,663,500, issued on May 26, 2020.
Application 16/429,534 is a continuation of application No. 15/495,892, filed on Apr. 24, 2017, granted, now 10,309,994, issued on Jun. 4, 2019.
Application 15/495,892 is a continuation of application No. 14/056,898, filed on Oct. 17, 2013, granted, now 9,645,180, issued on May 9, 2017.
Application 14/056,898 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/866,901, filed on Apr. 19, 2013, granted, now 9,411,073, issued on Aug. 9, 2016.
Application 13/866,901 is a continuation in part of application No. 13/462,505, filed on May 2, 2012, granted, now 8,437,959, issued on May 7, 2013.
Application 13/462,505 is a continuation of application No. 13/453,956, filed on Apr. 23, 2012, granted, now 8,335,649, issued on Dec. 18, 2012.
Application 13/453,956 is a continuation of application No. 13/190,442, filed on Jul. 25, 2011, granted, now 8,165,812, issued on Apr. 24, 2012.
Prior Publication US 2023/0350097 A1, Nov. 2, 2023
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. G01W 1/12 (2006.01); G01R 21/133 (2006.01); G01W 1/02 (2006.01); G06F 17/11 (2006.01); G06F 17/16 (2006.01); G06F 30/20 (2020.01); G06Q 10/04 (2023.01); G06Q 50/06 (2012.01); H02J 3/38 (2006.01); H02S 50/00 (2014.01); H02S 50/15 (2014.01); G06Q 50/04 (2012.01)
CPC G01W 1/12 (2013.01) [G01R 21/1331 (2013.01); G01W 1/02 (2013.01); G06F 17/11 (2013.01); G06F 17/16 (2013.01); G06F 30/20 (2020.01); G06Q 10/04 (2013.01); G06Q 50/06 (2013.01); H02J 3/38 (2013.01); H02S 50/00 (2013.01); H02S 50/15 (2014.12); G06Q 50/04 (2013.01); H02J 2203/20 (2020.01); Y02E 10/56 (2013.01); Y02E 60/00 (2013.01); Y02P 90/30 (2015.11); Y04S 40/20 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A system for estimating photovoltaic energy through empirical derivation with the aid of a digital computer, comprising:
at least one computer processor configured to:
obtain solar irradiance data comprising a set of irradiance observations that have been recorded for a location at which a photovoltaic plant can be operated with each irradiance observation in the set being separated by regular intervals of time;
obtain measured irradiance associated with at least some of the irradiance observations;
obtain a set of clear sky irradiance with each clear sky irradiance in the set corresponding to one of the irradiance observations;
empirically derive using an optimization approach a weighting factor array using at least some of the measured irradiance and the irradiance observations associated with the at least some measured irradiance;
estimate a set of normalized irradiation, with each normalized irradiation in the set corresponding to one of the irradiance observations, using the weighing factor array and the irradiance observations;
form a time series of clearness indexes with each clearness index in the time series corresponding to one of the irradiance observations, each clearness index comprising a ratio of the irradiance observation's corresponding normalized irradiation estimate and the irradiance observation's corresponding clear sky irradiance; and
forecast photovoltaic energy production for the photovoltaic plant as a function of the time series of the clearness indexes and photovoltaic plant's power rating.