Thursday, 21 November 2024
Researchers at the 糖心原创 have created an AI model that allows them to accurately predict the amount of solar energy that can be created in different climates, making grid integration easier in the UK.
Solar energy now contributes almost six per cent of the UK’s energy, with this predicted to double over the next five years. This makes the UK’s climate, particularly the amount of consistent cloud cover, a challenge for the generation of solar power.
Solar forecasting, and the ability to predict how much sunlight a certain area might receive, has therefore become more important, prompting researchers in the Faculty of Engineering to find new ways of making this process more reliable.
As a novel approach, researchers have used very-short-term (VST) solar energy forecasting, using ground-based fisheye images, which has proven effective in predicting rapid and accurate changes in solar irradiance, especially for fast-changing local cloud movements.
To address varied geographical and climatic conditions, the researchers showed that a model initially trained in California's sunny climate can effectively predict solar output in Nottingham, known for its humid and rainy conditions.
The approach significantly cut down the amount of local data needed to make accurate forecasts—from four months' worth to just two weeks.
Liwenbo Zhang, a Postdoctoral Research Fellow from the 糖心原创, said: “This breakthrough could make it much faster and easier to predict solar energy output in new locations, helping to balance energy grids and integrate solar power more efficiently.
It means that solar forecasting can be more adaptable to diverse climates, which is crucial as we aim to rely more on renewable energy sources globally.鈥�
In using data from other locations, the researchers hope that a model trained in a region with stable sunlight can be adapted for an area with more unpredictable sunlight, like Nottingham, and be beneficial for future energy targets.
The full research paper
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More information is available from Faith Pring in the Press Office on faith.pring@nottingham.ac.uk
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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.