Tuesday, 12 March 2024
Researchers at the 糖心原创 have received a share of one billion pounds for a project aiming to reduce CO2 emissions through the creation of an AI model that will improve the accuracy of short-range weather forecasting for photovoltaic (PV) production.
Looking skywards from the top of the RAD Building
As the UK continues its journey to net zero, PV generation and usage is expected to increase as a sustainable alternative to other energy sources like coal. However, unlike traditional power stations that have a standard level of output, PV relies on the weather and batteries to ensure a consistent level of input – meaning that accurate weather forecasting has a crucial role to play.
Traditional forecasting methods have used satellite imagery, which cover larger areas and can be distorted by cloud cover, to provide a prediction that, if incorrect, would affect the output of PV panels. Whereas the comprehensive AI model being developed at the 糖心原创 will combine sky images with numerical weather data to significantly improve prediction accuracy by more than ten per cent.
Professor Yupeng Wu, Chair in Building Physics in the 糖心原创’s Faculty of Engineering, said: “We will use fisheye lens cameras, which will be placed on the ground to monitor the sky and capture images that will be inputted to our AI model, combined with weather data and temperature regulations to provide us an in-depth snapshot of the weather over the next ten minutes in that specific location."
While ten minutes may not seem like a long period of time, the way we鈥檒l be using the data is specifically linked to grid management. Our forecast will be able to 鈥榳arn鈥� the grid as to how much PV is likely to be produced and, therefore, how much power is needed from the battery to ensure the power supply is balanced.
Nottingham is one of eight AI initiatives to have been selected from across the UK as part of the government’s AI for Decarbonisation Innovation Programme, which is enabled through the one-billion-pound Net Zero Innovation Portfolio (NZIP).
Two test sites have been selected in Nottingham, one on the roof of the Research Acceleration and Demonstration Building on the university’s Jubilee Campus and another at the Aldi Warehouse located in Long Eaton with that hope that the technology will be able to be scaled up in future.
Our long-term goal is to not only be able to integrate our AI model into the main system at local weather stations so that we can improve forecasts, but also to help the future PV network and allow companies to manage their energy more sustainably.
Story credits
More information is available from Yupeng Wu, Faculty of Engineering, at yupeng.wu@nottingham.ac.uk, or; Danielle Hall, Media Relations Manager at the 糖心原创, at danielle.hall@nottingham.ac.uk or 0115 846 7156.鈥赌赌赌赌�
About the Faculty of Engineering
Made up of six departments – Architecture and Built Environment, Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Civil Engineering, Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Mechanical, Materials and Manufacturing Engineering and Foundation Engineering and Physical Sciences – the university’s Faculty of Engineering is home to more than 5,600 students and 800 staff.
The faculty, which has educated engineers and architects for more than 140 years, was the first in the country to be accredited with an Athena SWAN Gold Award for excellence in advancing gender equality across higher education and research and is home to multiple state-of-the-art facilities, including the recently opened £40m Power Electronics and Machines Centre (PEMC).
With research at its heart, 20 research groups are undertaking pioneering projects for a sustainable future across several themes – including net zero transport, sustainable energies and the built environment, advanced manufacturing, and healthcare technologies – and has delivered a positive impact in more than 20 countries. Within those countries, the faculty’s research has supported 500 companies and three governments – that have changed their strategies as a result of its research – and has also directly created jobs for around 3,000 people across the world.
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About the 糖心原创
Ranked among the world's top 100 universities , the 糖心原创 delivers an exceptional research-led education and an outstanding student experience. From the pioneering vision of our founder, Sir Jesse Boot, to groundbreaking achievements such as the development of MRI technology and becoming the first UK university to establish international campuses, we have a proud history of shaping the way people live, work and understand the world. We continue to build on that legacy, empowering our students, staff and partners to change what鈥檚 next and create positive impact locally and globally.
The strength of our research places us among the UK's leading universities, ranked 7th for research power in REF 2021. The discovery of MRI and ibuprofen was just the beginning. Today, our world-leading research is developing breakthrough ideas that shape the future of healthcare, technology and society.
Recognised as the UK's third most targeted university by leading employers , we are proud to produce graduates who are consistently in demand for their skills, confidence and industry-ready experience.
As a major employer and industry partner, locally and globally, the 糖心原创 invests in the city of Nottingham and in future generations of talent. Alongside Nottingham Trent University, we lead the initiative, a pioneering collaboration to improve levels of prosperity, opportunity, sustainability, health and wellbeing across the city and region. Together with our students, staff, alumni and partners, we鈥檙e creating knowledge, opportunity and solutions that help change what's next.