Real-time solar irradiance forecasting for grid integration using all-sky imagery and multi-stage AI with Kalman filter optimization.

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Bibliographic Details
Title: Real-time solar irradiance forecasting for grid integration using all-sky imagery and multi-stage AI with Kalman filter optimization.
Authors: Barhmi, K.1 (AUTHOR) k.bahrmi@uu.nl, Golroodbari, S. Mirbagheri1 (AUTHOR), Knap, W.2 (AUTHOR), Van Sark, W.1 (AUTHOR)
Source: Renewable Energy: An International Journal. Mar2026, Vol. 259, pN.PAG-N.PAG. 1p.
Subject Terms: *Atmospheric sciences, *Smart power grids, *Solar radiation, Forecasting, Kalman filtering, Real-time computing
Abstract: Rapid photovoltaic (PV) integration challenges grid stability under dynamic cloud conditions. Current forecasting methods are limited to 11–15 min horizons, rely on computationally intensive black-box models, and lack the accuracy balance required for operational grid management. This study introduces a novel forecasting framework providing accurate irradiance forecasts up to 30 min ahead while maintaining real-time computational efficiency. The operational framework integrates advanced sky image analysis with a hybrid AI architecture and Kalman filtering optimization. Key technical innovations include (1) superpixel-based cloud detection using Simple Linear Iterative Clustering (SLIC) for precise atmospheric characterization and (2) a hybrid Support Vector Machine–Convolutional Neural Network (SVM–CNN) model with Kalman filtering for Clear Sky Index estimation across diverse weather conditions. A weather-adaptive clustering module dynamically adjusts forecasting strategies across five sky conditions, while multi-frequency modeling captures spatial–temporal variability. Compared to state-of-the-art deep learning methods, the proposed framework demonstrates superior forecasting accuracy while requiring significantly fewer computational resources, making it suitable for deployment on edge devices and for real-time grid applications. Validation against measured data shows forecast skill (FS) improvements ranging from 8.3% to 22% and 6.7% to 18% over smart persistence benchmarks. Kalman filtering further reduces FS error by 20%, particularly under challenging sky conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
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Database: GreenFILE
Description
Abstract:Rapid photovoltaic (PV) integration challenges grid stability under dynamic cloud conditions. Current forecasting methods are limited to 11–15 min horizons, rely on computationally intensive black-box models, and lack the accuracy balance required for operational grid management. This study introduces a novel forecasting framework providing accurate irradiance forecasts up to 30 min ahead while maintaining real-time computational efficiency. The operational framework integrates advanced sky image analysis with a hybrid AI architecture and Kalman filtering optimization. Key technical innovations include (1) superpixel-based cloud detection using Simple Linear Iterative Clustering (SLIC) for precise atmospheric characterization and (2) a hybrid Support Vector Machine–Convolutional Neural Network (SVM–CNN) model with Kalman filtering for Clear Sky Index estimation across diverse weather conditions. A weather-adaptive clustering module dynamically adjusts forecasting strategies across five sky conditions, while multi-frequency modeling captures spatial–temporal variability. Compared to state-of-the-art deep learning methods, the proposed framework demonstrates superior forecasting accuracy while requiring significantly fewer computational resources, making it suitable for deployment on edge devices and for real-time grid applications. Validation against measured data shows forecast skill (FS) improvements ranging from 8.3% to 22% and 6.7% to 18% over smart persistence benchmarks. Kalman filtering further reduces FS error by 20%, particularly under challenging sky conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
ISSN:09601481
DOI:10.1016/j.renene.2025.125117