A hybrid deep learning framework for global irradiance prediction using fuzzy C-Means, CNN-WNN, and Informer models

Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing solar energy forecasting, enabling precise irradiance prediction for electric solar vehicles (ESVs) to optimize energy efficiency and extend driving range.This study introduces a novel AI-powered hybrid deep learning framework that synergistically comb...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Walid Mchara, Lazhar Manai, Mohamed Abdellatif Khalfa, Monia Raissi, Wissem Dimassi, Salah Hannachi
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2025-09-01
Series:Cleaner Engineering and Technology
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790825001843
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1849390682386464768
author Walid Mchara
Lazhar Manai
Mohamed Abdellatif Khalfa
Monia Raissi
Wissem Dimassi
Salah Hannachi
author_facet Walid Mchara
Lazhar Manai
Mohamed Abdellatif Khalfa
Monia Raissi
Wissem Dimassi
Salah Hannachi
author_sort Walid Mchara
collection DOAJ
description Artificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing solar energy forecasting, enabling precise irradiance prediction for electric solar vehicles (ESVs) to optimize energy efficiency and extend driving range.This study introduces a novel AI-powered hybrid deep learning framework that synergistically combines fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), wavelet neural networks (WNNs), and an Informer model to achieve superior accuracy. The FCM layer first groups meteorological data into coherent clusters, reducing noise and isolating localized patterns. CNNs then extract high-level spatial features from each cluster, while WNNs decode multi-resolution irradiance dynamics, capturing both abrupt fluctuations and gradual trends. Finally, the Informer model — equipped with attention mechanisms — identifies long-term temporal dependencies, selecting the most informative timesteps for accurate prediction.The study’s experiments were conducted using a comprehensive dataset sourced from the Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS). This dataset spans from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2020. Data was collected from four climatically distinct cities in the USA: Phoenix, Arizona (desert); Miami, Florida (tropical); Denver, Colorado (semi-arid, high altitude); and Seattle, Washington (oceanic). The proposed CNN-WNN-Informer model achieved average reductions across all cities of 67.7% in t-statistic, 73.9% in Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), 82.5% in Mean Absolute Bias Error (MABE), and 59.0% in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), underscoring its significant improvements. By minimizing prediction uncertainty, the framework empowers smarter battery utilization and route planning, bridging the gap between renewable energy and sustainable mobility. This robust performance suggests its potential for integration into intelligent transportation systems and smart grid applications, paving the way for more resilient and energy-efficient urban environments.
format Article
id doaj-art-0fb2e5affad04fe6919daf49a1fb0ccd
institution Kabale University
issn 2666-7908
language English
publishDate 2025-09-01
publisher Elsevier
record_format Article
series Cleaner Engineering and Technology
spelling doaj-art-0fb2e5affad04fe6919daf49a1fb0ccd2025-08-20T03:41:26ZengElsevierCleaner Engineering and Technology2666-79082025-09-012810106110.1016/j.clet.2025.101061A hybrid deep learning framework for global irradiance prediction using fuzzy C-Means, CNN-WNN, and Informer modelsWalid Mchara0Lazhar Manai1Mohamed Abdellatif Khalfa2Monia Raissi3Wissem Dimassi4Salah Hannachi5Laboratory of Robotics, Informatics and Complex Systems (RISC), National Engineering School of Tunis (ENIT), University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), B.P No 37, Le Belvedere, 1002, Tunis, TunisiaLaboratory of Robotics, Informatics and Complex Systems (RISC), National Engineering School of Tunis (ENIT), University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), B.P No 37, Le Belvedere, 1002, Tunis, Tunisia; Higher Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (ISTIC), University of Carthage, B.P No 123, Hamam Chatt, 1164, Tunisia; Corresponding author at: Laboratory of Robotics, Informatics and Complex Systems (RISC), National Engineering School of Tunis (ENIT), University of Tunis El Manar (UTM), B.P No 37, Le Belvedere, 1002, Tunis, Tunisia.Higher Institute of Information and Communication Technologies (ISTIC), University of Carthage, B.P No 123, Hamam Chatt, 1164, Tunisia; Laboratory of Advanced Networking and Systems for Energy Research (LaNSER), Research and Technology Centre of Energy (CRTEn), 2050, Hammam Lif, B.P No 95, Borj Cedria, TunisiaDepartment of Mathematics, Faculty of Science, Monastir, Tunis, TunisiaLaboratory of Advanced Networking and Systems for Energy Research (LaNSER), Research and Technology Centre of Energy (CRTEn), 2050, Hammam Lif, B.P No 95, Borj Cedria, TunisiaTeraLab Research in Electronics, and Informatics, Teratech, Tunis, TunisiaArtificial intelligence (AI) is revolutionizing solar energy forecasting, enabling precise irradiance prediction for electric solar vehicles (ESVs) to optimize energy efficiency and extend driving range.This study introduces a novel AI-powered hybrid deep learning framework that synergistically combines fuzzy C-means (FCM) clustering, convolutional neural networks (CNNs), wavelet neural networks (WNNs), and an Informer model to achieve superior accuracy. The FCM layer first groups meteorological data into coherent clusters, reducing noise and isolating localized patterns. CNNs then extract high-level spatial features from each cluster, while WNNs decode multi-resolution irradiance dynamics, capturing both abrupt fluctuations and gradual trends. Finally, the Informer model — equipped with attention mechanisms — identifies long-term temporal dependencies, selecting the most informative timesteps for accurate prediction.The study’s experiments were conducted using a comprehensive dataset sourced from the Photovoltaic Geographical Information System (PVGIS). This dataset spans from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2020. Data was collected from four climatically distinct cities in the USA: Phoenix, Arizona (desert); Miami, Florida (tropical); Denver, Colorado (semi-arid, high altitude); and Seattle, Washington (oceanic). The proposed CNN-WNN-Informer model achieved average reductions across all cities of 67.7% in t-statistic, 73.9% in Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE), 82.5% in Mean Absolute Bias Error (MABE), and 59.0% in Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), underscoring its significant improvements. By minimizing prediction uncertainty, the framework empowers smarter battery utilization and route planning, bridging the gap between renewable energy and sustainable mobility. This robust performance suggests its potential for integration into intelligent transportation systems and smart grid applications, paving the way for more resilient and energy-efficient urban environments.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790825001843AttentionCNNDeep learningForecastingInformerLSTM
spellingShingle Walid Mchara
Lazhar Manai
Mohamed Abdellatif Khalfa
Monia Raissi
Wissem Dimassi
Salah Hannachi
A hybrid deep learning framework for global irradiance prediction using fuzzy C-Means, CNN-WNN, and Informer models
Cleaner Engineering and Technology
Attention
CNN
Deep learning
Forecasting
Informer
LSTM
title A hybrid deep learning framework for global irradiance prediction using fuzzy C-Means, CNN-WNN, and Informer models
title_full A hybrid deep learning framework for global irradiance prediction using fuzzy C-Means, CNN-WNN, and Informer models
title_fullStr A hybrid deep learning framework for global irradiance prediction using fuzzy C-Means, CNN-WNN, and Informer models
title_full_unstemmed A hybrid deep learning framework for global irradiance prediction using fuzzy C-Means, CNN-WNN, and Informer models
title_short A hybrid deep learning framework for global irradiance prediction using fuzzy C-Means, CNN-WNN, and Informer models
title_sort hybrid deep learning framework for global irradiance prediction using fuzzy c means cnn wnn and informer models
topic Attention
CNN
Deep learning
Forecasting
Informer
LSTM
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666790825001843
work_keys_str_mv AT walidmchara ahybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT lazharmanai ahybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT mohamedabdellatifkhalfa ahybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT moniaraissi ahybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT wissemdimassi ahybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT salahhannachi ahybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT walidmchara hybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT lazharmanai hybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT mohamedabdellatifkhalfa hybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT moniaraissi hybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT wissemdimassi hybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels
AT salahhannachi hybriddeeplearningframeworkforglobalirradiancepredictionusingfuzzycmeanscnnwnnandinformermodels