As solar markets grapple with volatility, curtailment and negative pricing, the accuracy of short-term forecasting has become critical to PV performance. But while forecasting models continue to advance, their effectiveness still depends on one often-overlooked factor: the quality and integrity of the irradiance data behind them.
Across global solar markets, and particularly in Europe, the rapid expansion of renewable energy capacity is fundamentally changing how photovoltaic (PV) systems are operated. The increasing frequency of negative electricity prices and curtailment events reflects a structural imbalance between generation and grid flexibility.
As more solar capacity is deployed, the challenge is no longer limited to maximising annual energy yield, but increasingly focused on managing variability and responding to real-time grid constraints.
In this context, short-term forecasting has become a critical operational tool. Accurate irradiance forecasts on timescales from seconds to minutes allow operators to anticipate rapid changes in generation, prepare battery energy storage systems (BESS), and manage ramp rates to comply with grid requirements.