What could be won by predicting solar radiation better? Could there be improvements in the effectiveness of photovoltaic panels or solar farms on a larger scale? SKY Perfect JSAT, a satellite company from Japan, is expanding its solar radiation forecasting business, mainly targeting the growing solar energy market in Europe. In April, the company launched Solar Meilleur, which provides near- and long-term solar radiation forecasts using AI, IoT technologies, and satellite images.
Known as “Sora Mieeru” or “I Can See the Sky” in Japan, Solar Meilleur enables solar panel owners to anticipate how much solar power will be generated. It combines space- and ground-based observations to optimize solar power generation, storage, and trade, which helps improve this sustainable energy source as a tool for a carbon-free society.
Solar egg IoT devices planned to help improve solar energy farming
Following contracts with several domestic clients, SKY Perfect JSAT is now eyeing the global market, recognizing that weather patterns know no borders. Solar Meilleur predicts the amount of solar radiation from the sun by combining cloud images from weather satellites and data from a ground device named “Solar TAMAGO,” or solar eggs.
The IoT device resembles two stacked eggs and incorporates a whole-sky camera, weather sensors for temperature, humidity, pressure, and LTE communication. Positioned at solar power plants, Solar TAMAGO collects real-time data on weather conditions at specific locations on the ground. The system then analyzes this data to provide accurate sunlight duration, employing AI to enhance prediction accuracy continually.
Hiroki Obuchi, leader of the Green Innovation Solar Meilleur project, shares, “The challenge of solar power is variability due to fluctuating cloud and sunlight conditions. This challenge is the same everywhere,” […] “I think there is room for us to contribute to this issue of solar power generation since the logic is the same all over the world” […] “In Europe, there is a trade-in electricity for short periods of time, and that is where our product will be a good fit,” showing their interest to stake a claim in that market as well.
As they state, Solar Meilleur allows solar panel owners to sell electricity timely and efficiently, while power companies can adjust the balance between solar and thermal power generation to reduce surplus power. The system’s forecasting period ranges from five minutes to three days, with the company aiming to achieve an accuracy rate of over 80 percent for its 30-minute forecasts.
Solutions aimed to support making smarter use of solar energy
The implications of accurate solar prediction data, such as that provided by Solar Meilleur, are significant for the industry. For owners of photovoltaic panels, it means managing and maximizing their power output efficiently. It also allows for more effective planning and utilization of energy resources. By knowing when to expect peak sunlight hours, they can better schedule power-intensive operations to coincide with these periods, maximizing the use of solar power and reducing reliance on other, potentially less environmentally friendly energy sources.
Having precise forecasts allows power companies to balance their energy mix more effectively, reducing surplus power and making the overall system more efficient. This could lead to cost savings, which could then be passed on to consumers, promoting the adoption of renewable energy sources.
Furthermore, accurate forecasting could also have implications for the broader energy market. It could contribute to more stable energy prices, as supply and demand can be better balanced. Additionally, it could support the development of smart grids and storage solutions, as accurate data is crucial for these technologies to work effectively. In summary, the work of SKY Perfect JSAT in this area reflects their innovative spirit and contribution towards a more sustainable and efficient future in energy consumption, but we will need a while until we can see how well the solution can be implemented.
YouTube: Solar Meilleur (promotional clip from SKY Perfect JSAT / スカパーJSAT)
Photo credit: The images shown are owned by SKY Perfect JSAT and were made available as part of a press release.
Source: Press release
