About Renewable Energy Forecasting: Renewable Energy Potential and Disinformation

We at some point in our lives have always come across the phase ‘renewable energy’. Renewable energy basically refers to the energy sources around us, which can be utilized to infinite extents without worrying about the potential depletion of the source in the future. Renewable energy forecasting is a particular field which deals with the statistics of the probable use and expenditure of renewable sources of energy which can be utilized by the general population in the near future.
Some of the available technologies, which can help harness the renewable sources of energy, include the following:

1-Photovoltaic Systems:

Solar energy is the most abundantly available energy source on our planet. The sun radiates around 3.86 x 1026 watts of power out of which about 1.74 x 1017 watts of energy strikes the earth’s surface. This amount of energy is so vast that if harnessed ultimately can help power our energy requirements for more than 100 years.

Power forecasting is the particular field which deals with the characteristics and processes involved with regarding the utilization of sunlight energy uses. Using sophisticated algorithms to trace the sun’s path, the amount of heat generated, and the overall impact of the sunlight in a particular area it can help is maximizing the energy collection and overall utilization.

2-Wind turbines and windmills:

Turbines are giant fans which operate of the principle that the energy extracted from a fluid can be converted into work. The quasi-fluid, in this case, refers to wind. High-speed wind causes the propeller to rotate which is connected to a motor; the motor spins with the propeller and hence electricity can be produced. It’s a simple principle, and as wind is also abundant in nature, it’s a significant renewable energy source.

Area of research here refers to wind energy forecasting which deals with the prediction of the estimated output of multiple wind turbines which are all operating simultaneously in a wind farm. Statistical analysis of wind energy can be challenging due to the unpredictable nature of wind due to which physical examination can be required in addition to computational analysis of the wind graph.

3-Hydropower Energy – This particular energy refers to water. High-pressure water is fed directly into a turbine system. The water rotates the fan, the fan rotates the motor, and hence electricity is produced. Renewable energy forecasting indicates hydropower is the most used renewable source of energy all over the world. The number of hydroelectric power stations has increased about ten times since the last fifteen years and will continue to evolve in the near future.

• The body under which under sees the forecasting is the qualified coordination agency or QCA. In general, they are responsible for the management of data such as metering, periodic inspection of the energy system, communication, transmission and other necessities. 

• Statistics gathered from the forecasting, based on comprehensive surveys conducted by the researchers also indicate a large amount of disinformation surrounding the concept of renewable sources of energy. Solar energy forecasting survey showed about 30% of people living in developed countries believe that harvesting solar energy causes global warming. In the US, the state of North Carolina rejected a proposed solar farm from the government amidst fear of “sucking up of the energy of the sun”. 

Study in the energy forecasting field will thus help educate people about the potential of renewable energy and the quality implication it will have to fight climate change and global warming.