1,721,344 research outputs found

    Photovoltaic generation forecast for power transmission scheduling: A real case study

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    The increased penetration of photovoltaic power introduces new challenges for the stability of the electrical grid, both at the local and national level. Many different effects are caused by high solar power injection into the electric grid. Among them, the increased risk of imbalance between the actual and scheduled power transmission is of particular relevance. The consequence is the need to exchange larger amounts of dispatchable power on the balancing energy market. The aim of this work is to analyze and quantify the effects of PV penetration in a target region and to evaluate the energy and economic benefits of using day-ahead PV forecast for power transmission scheduling. For this purpose, we developed several data-driven methods for transmission scheduling that include day-ahead PV power forecasts. We compared the resulting operational imbalances from these new models against two reference models currently used by the local grid operators. In the case of no PV generation in the target area, the more accurate reference model leads to an imbalance of 3.6% of the peak power transmission while more accurate data-driven method reduces the imbalance to 3.2%. When the distributed PV capacity is not zero, the imbalance of the reference model grows from 5.15% (at the current penetration of 7%) to 9.8% (at the maximum planned regional penetration of 45%). When we apply the new scheduling model, imbalances are reduced to respectively 3.5% and 5.8% at 7% and 45% of penetration. Since in Italy the costs of imbalances resulting from distributed PV are borne by ratepayers, these costs are estimated to be respectively 2.3% and 15% of the average electricity bill at 7% and 45% penetration if the reference scheduling is used. When applying the new model these costs are respectively reduced to 1.2% and 8.5%. © 2018 Elsevier Lt

    Forecasting short-term electricity consumption using a semantics-based genetic programming framework: The South Italy case

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    Accurate and robust short-term load forecasting plays a significant role in electric power operations. This paper proposes a variant of genetic programming, improved by incorporating semantic awareness in algorithm, to address a short term load forecasting problem. The objective is to automatically generate models that could effectively and reliably predict energy consumption. The presented results, obtained considering a particularly interesting case of the South Italy area, show that the proposed approach outperforms state of the art methods. Hence, the proposed approach reveals appropriate for the problem of forecasting electricity consumption. This study, besides providing an important contribution to the energy load forecasting, confirms the suitability of genetic programming improved with semantic methods in addressing complex real-life applications. © 2014 Elsevier B.V

    Status quo of the air-conditioning market in europe: Assessment of the building stock

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    This study fills in knowledge gaps for the European air-conditioning (AC) market, which is fundamentally important to raising awareness about primary energy utilization. In contrast to space heating (SH) and domestic hot water (DHW) preparation, the European Union (EU) AC market is barely explored in scientific literature. While the focus of previous research has been on the residential sector, a shortfall of data for the services (wholesale and retail, offices, education, health, hotels and bars) exists. In this paper, data describing the actual space cooling (SC) market in Europe (quantity of SC units, equivalent full-load hours, installed capacities, seasonal energy efficiency values as well as cooled floor area per AC type and/or sector) is collected and explored using a bottom-up approach. Results indicate that SC is responsible for a significant portion of EU electricity consumption in households (nearly 5%) and even more in the service sector (~13%). Energy consumption for SC in the EU28 appears to be more than 140 TWh/y. The quantification of the European AC consumption shows a significant difference between the service and residential sectors: about 115 versus 25 TWh/y respectively. The SC market in Europe is characterized by a high potential for growth, especially in households. © 2017 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland

    Deterministic and Stochastic Approaches for Day-Ahead Solar Power Forecasting

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    Photovoltaic (PV) power forecasting has the potential to mitigate some of effects of resource variability caused by high solar power penetration into the electricity grid. Two main methods are currently used for PV power generation forecast: (i) a deterministic approach that uses physics-based models requiring detailed PV plant information and (ii) a data-driven approach based on statistical or stochastic machine learning techniques needing historical power measurements. The main goal of this work is to analyze the accuracy of these different approaches. Deterministic and stochastic models for dayahead PV generation forecast were developed, and a detailed error analysis was performed. Four years of site measurements were used to train and test the models. Numerical weather prediction (NWP) data generated by the weather research and forecasting (WRF) model were used as input. Additionally, a new parameter, the clear sky performance index, is defined. This index is equivalent to the clear sky index for PV power generation forecast, and it is here used in conjunction to the stochastic and persistence models. The stochastic model not only was able to correct NWP bias errors but it also provided a better irradiance transposition on the PV plane. The deterministic and stochastic models yield day-ahead forecast skills with respect to persistence of 35% and 39%, respectively. Copyright © 2017 by ASME

    Dynamical modeling and parameter identification of seismic isolation systems by evolution strategies

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    An application of Evolution Strategies (ESs) to the dynamic identification of hybrid seismic isolation systems is presented. It is shown how ESs are highly effective for the optimisation of the test problem defined in previous work for methodology validation. The acceleration records of a number of dynamic tests performed on a seismically isolated building are used as reference data for the parameter identification. The application of CMA-ES to a previously existing model considerably improves previous results but at the same time reveals limitations of the model. To investigate the problem three new mechanical models with higher number of parameters are developed. The application of CMA-ES to the best designed model allows improvements of up to 79% compared to the solutions previously available in literature. © Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2013

    Data-driven upscaling methods for regional photovoltaic power estimation and forecast using satellite and numerical weather prediction data

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    The growing photovoltaic generation results in a stochastic variability of the electric demand that could compromise the stability of the grid, increase the amount of energy reserve and the energy imbalance cost. On regional scale, the estimation of the solar power generation from the real time environmental conditions and the solar power forecast is essential for Distribution System Operators, Transmission System Operator, energy traders, and Aggregators. In this context, a new upscaling method was developed and used for estimation and forecast of the photovoltaic distributed generation in a small area of Italy with high photovoltaic penetration. It was based on spatial clustering of the PV fleet and neural networks models that input satellite or numerical weather prediction data (centered on cluster centroids) to estimate or predict the regional solar generation. Two different approaches were investigated. The simplest and more accurate approach requires a low computational effort and very few input information should be provided by users. The power estimation model provided a RMSE of 3% of installed capacity. Intra-day forecast (from 1 to 4 h) obtained a RMSE of 5%–7% and a skill score with respect to the smart persistence from −8% to 33.6%. The one and two days ahead forecast achieved a RMSE of 7% and 7.5% and a skill score of 39.2% and 45.7%. The smoothing effect on cluster scale was also studied. It reduces the RMSE of power estimation of 33% and the RMSE of day-ahead forecast of 12% with respect to the mean single cluster value. Furthermore, a method to estimate the forecast error was also developed. It was based on an ensemble neural network model coupled with a probabilistic correction. It can provide a highly reliable computation of the prediction intervals. © 2017 Elsevier Lt

    Multi-Model Ensemble for day ahead prediction of photovoltaic power generation

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    The aim of the paper is to compare several data-driven models using different Numerical Weather Prediction (NWP) input data and then to build up an outperforming Multi-Model Ensemble (MME) and its prediction intervals. Statistic, stochastic and hybrid machine-learning algorithms were developed and the NWP data from IFS and WRF models were used as input. It was found that the same machine learning algorithm differs in performance using as input NWP data with comparable accuracy. This apparent inconsistency depends on the capability of the machine learning model to correct the bias error of the input data. The stochastic and the hybrid model using the same WRF input, as well as the stochastic and the non-linear statistic models using the same IFS input, produce very similar results. The MME resulting from the averaging of the best data-driven forecasts, improves the accuracy of the outperforming member of the ensemble, bringing the skill score from 42% to 46%. To reach this performance, the ensemble should include forecasts with similar accuracy but generated with the higher variety of different data-driven technology and NWP input. The new performance metrics defined in the paper help to explain the reasons behind the different models performance. © 2016 Elsevier Ltd

    Constructing analytic approximate solutions to the Lane-Emden equation

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    We derive analytic approximations to the solutions of the Lane-Emden equation, a basic equation in Astrophysics that describes the Newtonian equilibrium structure of a self-gravitating polytropic fluid sphere. After recalling some basic results, we focus on the construction of rational approximations, discussing the limitations of previous attempts, and providing new accurate approximate solutions. © 2015 Elsevier B.V

    Claim watching and individual claims reserving using classification and regression trees

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    We present an approach to individual claims reserving and claim watching in general insurance based on classification and regression trees (CART). We propose a compound model consisting of a frequency section, for the prediction of events concerning reported claims, and a severity section, for the prediction of paid and reserved amounts. The formal structure of the model is based on a set of probabilistic assumptions which allow the provision of sound statistical meaning to the results provided by the CART algorithms. The multiperiod predictions required for claims reserving estimations are obtained by compounding one-period predictions through a simulation procedure. The resulting dynamic model allows the joint modeling of the case reserves, which usually yields useful predictive information. The model also allows predictions under a double-claim regime, i.e., when two different types of compensation can be required by the same claim. Several explicit numerical examples are provided using motor insurance data. For a large claims portfolio we derive an aggregate reserve estimate obtained as the sum of individual reserve estimates and we compare the result with the classical chain-ladder estimate. Backtesting exercises are also proposed concerning event predictions and claim-reserve estimates
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