A Solar Variability Law? Accurately Predicting Solar Energy Output
Tuesday, June 21, 2011 - 16:00
in Astronomy & Space
Whether you agree or not, the funding machine for solar and wind energy is in motion and it is hard to stop - look at the debate over ending ethanol subsidies.One way to make an informed policy decision is to truly know just how much solar energy will be provided in a 'smart' grid scenario, beyond optimistic projections by lobbyists. U.C. San Diego Professor Jan Kleissl and Matthew Lave, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the Jacobs School, say they can do it. They developed a software program that allows power grid managers to predict fluctuations in the solar grid caused by changes in the cloud cover - and even discovered a solar variability 'law'.read more