Researchers develop AI-based prediction technology that could optimize a clean energy source – here’s how it works

Researchers at the University of Nottingham have developed a new AI-based weather forecasting model. This is a potentially huge breakthrough, as it could lead to more reliable solar power.

The United Kingdom, where the University of Nottingham is based, is famous for its cloudy and gray skies. According to the Solar Energy Industries Association, although solar panels work on cloudy days, they are much more efficient when exposed to direct sunlight. Therefore, the ability to predict rapidly changing weather conditions and cloud movement allows us to maximize the amount of energy solar panels can produce.

This is particularly important given the world’s growing reliance on solar energy.

According to a Deloitte report, solar power capacity increased by 88% to 18.6 gigawatts in 2024 in the United States alone. As much of the world’s electricity increasingly comes from solar sources, improving efficiency is critical to keeping our power grids operational.

The new AI forecast model uses ground-based fisheye images, which can accurately predict rapid changes in cloud cover. Scientists initially developed the model in California, a very sunny state. But the researchers were able to show that their AI forecasting model could also be applied to much darker places like Nottingham, which is a major breakthrough.

As they wrote in the study, “This efficiency translates into significant savings in model training time and data collection efforts.”

This means the model could be applied to different climates around Earth.

“This advancement could make it much faster and easier to predict solar power generation in new locations, helping to balance energy grids and integrate solar power more efficiently,” noted Liwenbo Zhang, the one of the university’s researchers.

The widespread use of solar panels is beneficial for both the environment and your wallet. They also significantly reduce the amount of air pollution caused by traditional dirty energy sources.

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This is just the latest technological advancement in solar energy. Recently, researchers discovered a way to manipulate light to increase its absorption. This is huge because more direct sunlight means more energy. All of these advances are essential because they make solar energy more affordable. They could also ease consumer fears about switching to solar energy.

If you’re considering installing solar panels, check out The Cool Down’s handy guide.

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