Intra-hour Forecasting of Direct Normal Solar Irradiance Using Variable Selection with Artificial Neural Networks

Renewable Energy Sources (RES) are one of the key solutions to handle the world’s future energy needs, while decreasing carbon emissions. To produce electricity, large concentrating solar power plants depend on Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI), which is rapidly variable under broken clouds conditions. To work at optimum capacity while maintaining stable grid conditions, such plants require accurate DNI forecasts for various time horizons. The main goal of this study is the forecasting of DNI over two short-term horizons: 15-min and 1-h. The proposed system is purely based on historical local data and Artificial Neural Networks (ANN). For this aim, 1-min solar irradiance measurements have been obtained from two sites in different climates. According to the forecast results, the coefficient of determination (R2) ranges between 0.500 and 0.851, the Mean Absolute Percentage Error (MAPE) between 0.500 and 0.851, the Normalized Mean Squared Error (NMSE) between 0.500 and 0.851, and the Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between 0.065 kWh/m2 and 0.105 kWh/m2. The proposed forecasting models show a reasonably good forecasting capability, which is decisive for a good management of solar energy systems.