When the sun is highest in the sky, solar output should be reaching its maximum output for the day. Well, that’s the idea, anyway.
But at noon on Sunday, Jan. 28, Alberta’s 1,650 megawatts of installed solar power generation capacity was producing 388 megawatts, or 23.5 per cent. That’s according to data published by the Alberta Electric System Operator (AESO).
Total generation in Alberta at noon on Sunday, Jan. 28. MC is maximum capacity in megawatts, TNG is total net to grid, and DCR is dispatched and accepted contingency reserve. AESO
The massive Travers solar facility, which has a capacity of 465 megawatts (and often reaches that in the summer) was producing just 94 megawatts, or 20.2 per cent. Travers is so large, making up 28 per cent of the province’s grid-scale solar capacity, that major swings in its output, such as when a cloud flies overhead, result in large swings in overall solar output.
Solar generation in Alberta at noon on Sunday, Jan. 28. MC is maximum capacity in megawatts, TNG is total net to grid, and DCR is dispatched and accepted contingency reserve. AESO
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The clouds overhead as seen from satellite photos explained why solar output was so dismal.
Clouds over southern Alberta at noon on Sunday, Jan. 28 accounted for low solar output. Environment and Climate Change Canada
The province definitely wasn’t short on power, however, Ample wind generation, at 2,260 megawatts out 4,481 megawatts capacity. The internal load was just 10,323 megawatts. The province was exporting near its maximum capacity to British Columbia, sending 935 megawatts over the Rockies. It was importing 72 megawatts from Montana and zero from Saskatchewan.
Alberta’s power interchange with its neighbours at noon on Sunday, Jan. 28. MC is maximum capacity in megawatts, TNG is total net to grid, and DCR is dispatched and accepted contingency reserve. AESO
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