Course Overview
This course provides a comprehensive understanding of the characteristics, variability, and forecasting techniques related to hydro, wind, and solar power resources. Participants will explore resource assessment methodologies, temporal and spatial variability, and advanced forecasting models that support efficient integration of these variable renewable energy sources into power systems.
The course combines theoretical foundations with practical applications, equipping participants with skills to analyze resource data, predict generation patterns, and manage variability for grid stability and reliability.
Course Objectives
By the end of this course, participants will be able to:
- Describe the physical and meteorological factors influencing hydro, wind, and solar resources.
- Understand temporal and spatial variability of renewable resources and its impact on power generation.
- Apply resource assessment tools and techniques for site evaluation.
- Analyze forecasting methods and their role in grid management.
- Develop strategies to mitigate variability through forecasting, storage, and grid flexibility.
Who Should Attend
This course is intended for:
- Renewable energy project developers and planners
- Grid operators and energy dispatch planners
- Meteorologists and environmental analysts
- Power system engineers and consultants
- Researchers and students in renewable energy and atmospheric sciences
- Policy makers and regulators involved in energy system integration
Course Outline
- Introduction to Renewable Power Resources
- Overview of hydro, wind, and solar resources
- Importance of resource assessment and forecasting
- Data sources and measurement techniques
- Hydropower Resource Characteristics
- Hydrological cycle and river flow dynamics
- Seasonal and inter-annual variability
- Reservoir vs. run-of-river hydropower impacts
- Tools for hydrological resource assessment
- Wind Power Resource Assessment
- Wind physics and boundary layer meteorology
- Wind speed distributions and Weibull parameters
- Site measurement and remote sensing technologies
- Wind resource maps and databases
- Solar Power Resource Assessment
- Solar radiation components: direct, diffuse, and global
- Solar geometry and atmospheric effects
- Measurement instruments and satellite data
- Solar resource mapping and assessment tools
- Variability and Uncertainty in Renewable Resources
- Temporal scales of variability: minutes to years
- Spatial variability and geographic diversification
- Impact of variability on power output and grid operations
- Correlation and complementarity among resources
- Forecasting Techniques for Renewable Energy
- Short-term vs. long-term forecasting needs
- Numerical weather prediction models
- Statistical and machine learning approaches
- Hybrid forecasting methods
- Verification metrics and error analysis
- Integration Challenges and Solutions
- Grid flexibility and balancing reserves
- Energy storage and demand response
- Market mechanisms for variable generation
- Case studies of integration best practices
- Tools and Software for Resource Assessment and Forecasting
- Overview of popular tools (e.g., WAsP, HOMER, PVsyst, Renewables.ninja)
- Data acquisition, processing, and visualization
- Hands-on exercises with sample datasets
- Future Trends and Research Directions
- Advances in remote sensing and big data analytics
- Improved forecasting for extreme weather events
- Role of AI and IoT in resource management
- Collaborative platforms and open data initiatives