QPRC 2016

Semiparametric approach to optimal sensor placement in a solar electric plant

Jane Harvill

Baylor University

Abstract

Assessment of a utility scale photovoltaic (PV) power plant's potential performance is a critical aspect in the initial plant design and construction, and accurate monitoring of plant efficiency is crucial to profitable plant operation. Both assessment and monitoring rely on measurement of irradiance at the plant's location. These measurements are typically made using two to four pyranometers which provide temporally dense, but spatially sparse data. Because plant output is directly related to total irradiance a natural question is, “What is the optimal number and layout of sensors for predicting solar irradiance?” We propose a semiparametric modeling approach in an attempt to answer this question. To illustrate utility, we apply the method to irradiance data collected from a 1.2 MW PV plant located in Lanai, Hawaii. This is joint work with Justin R. Sims (Department of Mathematics, Francis Marion) and Nalini Ravishanker (University of Connecticut).