Short-term forecasting of high resolution local DNI maps with multiple fish-eye cameras in stereoscopic mode

Abstract

Nowcasting of high resolution maps of direct normal irradiance (DNI) is of interest to efficiently operate Concentrated Solar Power plants. The paper presents a state-of-the-art and innovative methodology, developed in the framework of the FP7 DNICast project, to derive nowcasting of DNI maps from fish-eye cameras in stereoscopic mode. This methodology has been applied at the Plataforma Solar de Almeria: fish-eye cameras at distances from each other between 500 m and 900 m have been used in stereoscopic mode to produce nowcasted 1-min time series of decametric DNI maps.