Skip to main content

Sarah Mcney
Title: Computer Visioning for Tracking Clouds: Solar Array Performance Studies

Name: Sarah McNey

Major: Computer Science

School affiliation: School of Arts and Sciences

Programs: Aresty Summer Science Program

Other contributors: Kenny Sun, Justin Winch, and Professor Dunbar Birnie

Abstract: This project is aimed at using computer vision from stereo-pair video images of sky scenes to observe cloud locations in space and map their motions with time. These cloud motions cause shadows to fall on solar arrays and contribute to solar power variability. This computer vision work would be aimed at developing a capability for predicting those power variations in advance and allowing grid operators to adjust other generation or battery storage to compensate.