Solar power forecasting
AssigneeCommonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation
InventorsSam West, Ryan Lagerstrom, Changming Sun, Rongxin Li, Joel Wong
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for determining a level of solar radiation at a point of interest (POI). Multiple sky images are captured by a distributed network of digital cameras. Sun location parameters are determined. A three-dimensional (3D) sky model is generated based on the sky images. Generating the 3D sky model includes generating 3D object data based on the sky images to model one or more objects in a region of sky, and generating position data to model a position of the one or more objects in the region of sky. A level of solar radiation at the POI is determined based on the position data and 3D object data of the 3D sky model and the sun location parameters.
Claims20
A method for determining a level of solar radiation at a point of interest (POI), the method comprising:
- capturing multiple sky images by a distributed network of digital cameras comprising multiple pairs or sets of digital cameras capturing sky images of a region of the sky;
- determining sun location parameters;
- generating a three-dimensional (3D) sky model based on the sky images, wherein generating the 3D sky model comprises:
- generating 3D object data based on the sky images to model one or more objects in the region of sky by generating a separate 3D model for each of the one or more objects based on the sky images captured by each pair or set of digital cameras,
- wherein at least one pair or set of the multiple pairs or sets of digital cameras is configured to capture a side view of the region of the sky, and
- generating the 3D object data comprises calculating a thickness of the one or more objects and determining a continuous 3D surface mesh of the one or more objects based on sky images captured from the at least one pair or set of digital cameras including the side view of the region of the sky,
- the 3D object data comprising information regarding
- (i) the thickness of the one or more objects and
- (ii) the continuous 3D surface mesh of the one or more objects;
- and
- generating position data to model a position of the one or more objects in the region of sky;
- and
- determining a level of solar radiation at the POI based on the position data, the sun location parameters and the 3D object data comprising the information regarding (i) the thickness of the one or more objects and (ii) the continuous 3D surface mesh of the one or more objects.
A method for determining a network of digital cameras to estimate a performance of a solar power system, the method comprising:
- determining a predicted level of solar radiation;
- determining a predicted performance of a solar power system based on the predicted level of solar radiation;
- receiving measurement data indicative of actual performance of the solar power system;
- determining a difference between the predicted performance and the actual performance;
- and
- determining the network of digital cameras, including determining the number and location of digital cameras that reduces the difference between the predicted performance and the actual performance.
A system comprising:
- a distributed network of digital cameras comprising multiple pairs or sets of digital cameras to capture multiple sky images of a region of the sky;
- and
- a processor to:
- receive multiple sky images from the distributed network of digital cameras;
- generate a three-dimensional (3D) sky model based on the sky images, wherein generating the 3D sky model comprises:
- generate 3D object data based on the sky images to model one or more objects in the region of sky by generating a separate 3D model for each of the one or more objects based on the sky images captured by each pair or set of digital cameras,
- wherein at least one pair or set of the multiple pairs or sets of digital cameras is configured to capture a side view of the region of the sky, and
- generating the 3D object data comprises calculating a thickness of the one or more objects and determining a continuous 3D surface mesh of the one or more objects based on sky images captured from the at least one pair or set of digital cameras including the side view of the region of the sky,
- the 3D object data comprising information regarding
- (i) the thickness of the one or more objects and
- (ii) the continuous 3D surface mesh of the one or more objects;
- and
- generate position data to model a position of the one or more objects in the region of sky;
- determine sun location parameters;
- determine a level of solar radiation at the POI based on the position data, the sun location parameters and the 3D object data comprising the information regarding (i) the thickness of the one or more objects and (ii) the continuous 3D surface mesh of the one or more objects.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.