PV panel mapping -

• Acquire recent VHR satellite imagery and other geospatial datasets of four trial areas

• Map existing and potential PV panel locations and installation size based on roof size/slope/orientation/shading/roof obstructions

• Merge with Ordnance Survey mapping/addressing to determine actual and potential PV installations at individual property level

• Run a comparison of the existing PV panel installation database against an OFGEM FIT database and produce a comparison report

PV panels mapped into the GIS LV network and develop modelling software

• Map existing and potential PV panel connections into the GIS LV network

• Review DNOs modelling capabilities to simulate existing and potential PV panel power flows in the GIS LV network

• Agree scope of modelling for the project

• Identify how the use of satellite imagery can contribute to identifying voltage rise hotspots on the LV network, and“ at risk” secondary transformer locations

• Develop interactive tool to enable DNOs to model different PV energy input scenarios

Improve Solar Irradiation forecasting

Integrate existing solar irradiation data with the modelling software and develop improved solar irradiation forecasting models for medium- and longer-term horizons. This work will be led by the Satellite Application Catapult in partnership with the Met Office. The results of this will then be integrated with the modelling software developed in the previous stage to allow improved forcasting to be applied at a local scale i.e. with the LV network map. Test PV energy generation forecasting model to predict energy generation from installed (and potential) PV panels on the LV network at various timescales.

Final report

Final report detailing the methodology undertaken, the project results, deliverables and economics.

Benefits

• It is shown that the solar PV data delivered offers an improvement in the understanding of current PV deployment in comparison to the data available from OFGEM and other sources

• The solving of actual and potential solar PV network impacts can be recognised as having real benefits to the networks

• The Proof-of-Concept online service is intuitive to use

• The Proof-of-Concept online service allows flexible analysis of identified issues

• The solar irradiation forecasts service can be identified as improving knowledge and intelligence over and above existing forecasting services used by the DNOs

• The finished Proof-of-Concept materially improves the DNO’s ability to predict the impact of changes in PV output, in the short-, medium- and long –terms on LV network performance and safety