Sky Image-Based Localized, Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasting for Multiple PV Sites via Cloud Motion Tracking

Power generation through solar photovoltaics has shown significant growth in recent years. However, high penetration of solar PV creates power system operational issues as a result of solar PV variability and uncertainty. Short-term PV variability mainly occurs due to the intermittency of cloud cove...

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Main Authors: Lasanthika H. Dissawa, Roshan I. Godaliyadda, Parakrama B. Ekanayake, Ashish P. Agalgaonkar, Duane Robinson, Janaka B. Ekanayake, Sarath Perera
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2021-01-01
Series:International Journal of Photoenergy
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9973010
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author Lasanthika H. Dissawa
Roshan I. Godaliyadda
Parakrama B. Ekanayake
Ashish P. Agalgaonkar
Duane Robinson
Janaka B. Ekanayake
Sarath Perera
author_facet Lasanthika H. Dissawa
Roshan I. Godaliyadda
Parakrama B. Ekanayake
Ashish P. Agalgaonkar
Duane Robinson
Janaka B. Ekanayake
Sarath Perera
author_sort Lasanthika H. Dissawa
collection DOAJ
description Power generation through solar photovoltaics has shown significant growth in recent years. However, high penetration of solar PV creates power system operational issues as a result of solar PV variability and uncertainty. Short-term PV variability mainly occurs due to the intermittency of cloud cover. Therefore, to mitigate the effects of PV variability, a sky-image-based, localized, global horizontal irradiance forecasting model was introduced considering the individual cloud motion, cloud thicknesses, and the elevations of clouds above the ground level. The proposed forecasting model works independently of any historical irradiance measurements. Two inexpensive sky camera systems were developed and placed in two different locations to obtain sky images for cloud tracking and cloud-based heights. Then, irradiance values for onsite and for a PV site located with a distance of 2 km from the main camera were forecasted for 1 minute, 5 minutes, and 15 minutes ahead of real-time. Results show that the three-level cloud categorization and the individual cloud movement tracking method introduced in this paper increase the forecasting accuracy. For partially cloudy and sunny days, the forecasting model for 15 min forecasting time interval achieved a positive skill factor concerning the persistent model. The accuracy of determining the correct irradiance state for a 1 min forecasting time interval using the proposed model is 81%. The average measures of RMSE, MAE, and SF obtained using the proposed method for 15 min forecasting time horizon are 101 Wm-2, 64 Wm-2, and 0.26, respectively. These forecasting accuracy levels are much higher than the other benchmarks considered in this paper.
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spelling doaj-art-5e6dbb0d393e418ca3bc40b4568f5ddf2025-08-20T02:05:07ZengWileyInternational Journal of Photoenergy1110-662X1687-529X2021-01-01202110.1155/2021/99730109973010Sky Image-Based Localized, Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasting for Multiple PV Sites via Cloud Motion TrackingLasanthika H. Dissawa0Roshan I. Godaliyadda1Parakrama B. Ekanayake2Ashish P. Agalgaonkar3Duane Robinson4Janaka B. Ekanayake5Sarath Perera6Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri LankaDepartment of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri LankaDepartment of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri LankaSchool of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, AustraliaSchool of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, AustraliaDepartment of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Peradeniya, Peradeniya, Sri LankaSchool of Electrical, Computer and Telecommunications Engineering, University of Wollongong, Wollongong, AustraliaPower generation through solar photovoltaics has shown significant growth in recent years. However, high penetration of solar PV creates power system operational issues as a result of solar PV variability and uncertainty. Short-term PV variability mainly occurs due to the intermittency of cloud cover. Therefore, to mitigate the effects of PV variability, a sky-image-based, localized, global horizontal irradiance forecasting model was introduced considering the individual cloud motion, cloud thicknesses, and the elevations of clouds above the ground level. The proposed forecasting model works independently of any historical irradiance measurements. Two inexpensive sky camera systems were developed and placed in two different locations to obtain sky images for cloud tracking and cloud-based heights. Then, irradiance values for onsite and for a PV site located with a distance of 2 km from the main camera were forecasted for 1 minute, 5 minutes, and 15 minutes ahead of real-time. Results show that the three-level cloud categorization and the individual cloud movement tracking method introduced in this paper increase the forecasting accuracy. For partially cloudy and sunny days, the forecasting model for 15 min forecasting time interval achieved a positive skill factor concerning the persistent model. The accuracy of determining the correct irradiance state for a 1 min forecasting time interval using the proposed model is 81%. The average measures of RMSE, MAE, and SF obtained using the proposed method for 15 min forecasting time horizon are 101 Wm-2, 64 Wm-2, and 0.26, respectively. These forecasting accuracy levels are much higher than the other benchmarks considered in this paper.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9973010
spellingShingle Lasanthika H. Dissawa
Roshan I. Godaliyadda
Parakrama B. Ekanayake
Ashish P. Agalgaonkar
Duane Robinson
Janaka B. Ekanayake
Sarath Perera
Sky Image-Based Localized, Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasting for Multiple PV Sites via Cloud Motion Tracking
International Journal of Photoenergy
title Sky Image-Based Localized, Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasting for Multiple PV Sites via Cloud Motion Tracking
title_full Sky Image-Based Localized, Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasting for Multiple PV Sites via Cloud Motion Tracking
title_fullStr Sky Image-Based Localized, Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasting for Multiple PV Sites via Cloud Motion Tracking
title_full_unstemmed Sky Image-Based Localized, Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasting for Multiple PV Sites via Cloud Motion Tracking
title_short Sky Image-Based Localized, Short-Term Solar Irradiance Forecasting for Multiple PV Sites via Cloud Motion Tracking
title_sort sky image based localized short term solar irradiance forecasting for multiple pv sites via cloud motion tracking
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2021/9973010
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