Reliable prediction of solar photovoltaic power and module efficiency using Bayesian surrogate assisted explainable data-driven model

This study proposes a Bayesian surrogate-driven explainable deep neural network model to predict and interpret the module efficiency and maximum output power of three commercially available photovoltaic modules: monocrystalline silicon, polycrystalline silicon, and amorphous silicon during the winter season. In addition, the influence of the photovoltaic material and ambient conditions on the predicted power and module efficiency is investigated. The model inputs include solar irradiance, module material (monocrystalline, polycrystalline, and amorphous silicon), season of the year (months), and time of day (morning to evening). Experiments were conducted on these three modules during the winter using data from Rawalpindi, Pakistan. These data were then fed into the deep neural network model to train and yield predictions. Several preprocessing techniques such as logarithmic transformation, square root, cube root, reciprocal, and exponential transformations are employed to improve the linearity of distributed data. For hyper-parameters optimization, Gaussian process, gradient boost regression trees, and random forest are used. The results show that the optimal deep neural network using random forest surrogate model along with square root and exponential transformation is able to predict the maximum power output and module efficiency of the considered photovoltaic modules for the entire investigated period with a correlation coefficient, R² = 0.998. The least accurate model (R² = 0.991) is a Gaussian process using simple data distribution. These results hold valuable insights for predicting and optimizing the performance of other solar photovoltaic modules in various climates and different seasons of the year.