Usability of AMeDAS Sunshine Duration Data for Statistical Evaluation of Spatial Average Irradiance Fluctuation Characteristics

In order to mitigate the impacts of high‐penetration photovoltaic power generation systems (HP‐PVS) on the electric power system operation, the statistical evaluation of the aggregated power output fluctuation characteristics of HP‐PVS is important. By using the multipoint irradiance data observed for a year in the Chubu region of Japan, we have evaluated the fluctuation characteristics of spatial average irradiance. However, the study period is not enough for a statistical evaluation. Therefore, this study assessed the usability of the sunlight duration data of AMeDAS (Automated Meteorological Data Acquisition System) for the statistical evaluation of fluctuation characteristics in terms of the daily maximum fluctuation width in 120 min. The method of irradiance estimation from the sunlight duration data at single point proposed in the preceding study was modified to be suitable for the spatial average irradiance estimation by taking into account the smoothing effect of irradiance fluctuation among several points. The results suggest that the AMeDAS sunlight duration data would be useful for statistical evaluation of the fluctuation characteristics of the spatial average irradiance of an electric power system service area.