Just received the data on the impact of the Canadian wildfire smoke on solar production. For New York State, solar production fell by 60% due to the smoke. Ohio and Pennsylvania faired better with only a 30% decline.
The increasing amount of intermittent renewables makes generation forecasting exceedingly difficult. Tools for forecasting the impact of smoke on solar is not something that we currently have in our kit and with the expected increase in wildfires due to climate change, this shortcoming will become a larger concern.
It is also important to remember that solar panel output declines with increasing temperature. The typical reduction is .4% per 1 degree Celsius or 3 degrees Fahrenheit. If the Texas temperature reaches 110 degrees Fahrenheit, solar output will be 7.3% lower than its nameplate capacity.
Going to a fully renewable grid, adds additional challenges to reliability and resiliency. Protect your business and its bottom line with backup power as a Service. Exergy Energy, your concierge utility, can provide all you need to be more efficient, avoid blackouts and save money. All with no upfront cost. We provide backup power as a service and will keep you running during the inevitable outages and protect your profit margins from energy price volatility.