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Use of support vector regression and numerically predicted cloudiness to forecast power output of a photovoltaic power plant in Kitakyushu, Japan
Author(s) -
Silva Fonseca Joao Gari,
Oozeki Takashi,
Takashima Takumi,
Koshimizu Gentarou,
Uchida Yoshihisa,
Ogimoto Kazuhiko
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
progress in photovoltaics: research and applications
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.286
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1099-159X
pISSN - 1062-7995
DOI - 10.1002/pip.1152
Subject(s) - mean squared error , photovoltaic system , environmental science , meteorology , cloud cover , power (physics) , root mean square , electricity generation , regression analysis , mean absolute percentage error , statistics , production (economics) , econometrics , mathematics , computer science , engineering , economics , geography , cloud computing , physics , electrical engineering , quantum mechanics , macroeconomics , operating system
ABSTRACT The development of a methodology to forecast accurately the power produced by photovoltaic systems can be an important tool for the dissemination and integration of such systems on the public electricity grids. Thus, the objective of this study was to forecast the power production of a 1‐MW photovoltaic power plant in Kitakyushu, Japan, using a new methodology based on support vector machines and on the use of several numerically predicted weather variables, including cloudiness. Hourly forecasts of the power produced for 1 year were carried out. Moreover, the effect of the use of numerically predicted cloudiness on the quality of the forecasts was also investigated. The forecasts of power production obtained with the proposed methodology had a root mean square error of 0.0948 MW h and a mean absolute error of 0.058 MW h. It was also found that the forecast and measured values of power production had a good level of correlation varying from 0.8 to 0.88 according to the season of the year. Finally, the use of numerically predicted cloudiness had an important role in the accuracy of the forecasts, and when cloudiness was not used, the root mean square error of the forecasts increased more than 32%, and the mean absolute error increased more than 42%. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.