The Central Electricity Authority (CEA) has issued guidelines for the installation of automatic weather stations (AWS) at renewable energy project sites to enhance generation forecasting, weather predictability, and grid reliability.
As per the draft, AWS must be installed at solar and wind project sites of 50 MW or more, or as specified by the respective State Electricity Regulatory Commission. The Central Electricity Regulatory Commission will govern capacity regulations for both intra-state and inter-state transmission system connected projects. For solar projects, the AWS must be located on terrain resembling the plant site, with irradiance sensors aligned in the same tilt and orientation as the modules.
For wind projects, the station must reflect the actual wind regime, including turbulence zones and artificial barriers. The AWS must support real-time data transmission at 15-minute intervals, adjustable to one-minute intervals during extreme weather. It should be capable of unattended operation under all weather conditions, powered by a sealed maintenance-free battery with a minimum 20-day backup, and recharged through solar panels.
