Mapping all-sky images to GHI measurements for intra-hour solar forecasting

Power grid performance and reliability depend on the balancing of continuously varying energy loads with equal amounts of energy generation. The integration of solar energy challenges grid performance and reliability because abrupt solar radiance changes due to meteorological events can cause mismatches between renewable energy generation and energy demand. Accurate solar forecasting is needed to anticipate these mismatches in order to operate grids that integrate solar energy reliably and regulate the resulting energy markets. Sky cameras have been increasingly recognized as a promising source of measurements to support intra-hour solar forecasting with reference to both cost and technical consideration. The goal of this chapter is to assess the utility of sky camera data as an alternative or additional data source for intra-hour solar forecasting.