Spatio-temporal prediction of photovoltaic power based on a broad learning system and an improved backtracking search optimization algorithm

The accuracy of photovoltaic (PV) power forecasting techniques relies not only on high-quality spatiotemporal data but also on an efficient feature-mining methodology. In this study, a spatiotemporal power forecasting model based on the broad learning system (BLS) and the improved backtracking search optimization algorithm (IBSOA) is proposed. The objective is to enhance the accuracy of PV power predictions while reducing the time-intensive training process associated with an extensive set of broad learning system parameters. The spatiotemporal attributes of historical data from multiple PV sites are clustered using a self-organizing map. The clustering analysis explores the spatiotemporal correlation among five photovoltaic (PV) power stations for each season between 2017 and 2018. Subsequently, the IBSOA is employed to optimize the hyperparameters of the BLS model, particularly the mapping and enhancement nodes. By utilizing hyperparameter optimization, a BSOA-based broad learning model is introduced to achieve superior accuracy. The results are assessed using the proposed method in comparison with three popular optimization algorithms: 1) genetic algorithm (GA), 2) bird swarm algorithm (BSA), and 3) backtracking search optimization algorithm (BSOA). All scenarios are validated and compared using PV plant data from the DKA center in Australia. The root-mean-square error (RMSE) indicators of the proposed prediction method are consistently lower than the worst-case scenario in each season, decreasing by 3.2283 kW in spring, 3.9159 kW in summer, 1.3425 kW in autumn, and 1.4058 kW in winter. Similarly, the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) exhibits a reduction compared to the worst case, with a decreases of 0.882% in spring, 1.2399% in summer, 1.803% in autumn, and 1.087% in winter. The comprehensive results affirm that the proposed method surpasses alternative optimization techniques, delivering high-quality power forecasts for the given case study.