A Novel Two-Dimensional Convolutional Neural Network-Based an Hour-Ahead Wind Speed Prediction Method

With increasing penetration of wind power, accurate prediction of wind speed is essential for planning and operation of power grids. In this paper, a novel two-dimensional (2D) convolutional neural network (CNN)-based wind speed forecasting technique is proposed for an hour-ahead wind speed prediction. The wind speed at a specific time can be predicted in less than a few milliseconds using the proposed approach and meteorological data from a few hours earlier. The input feature selection, data preprocessing, and model evaluation of the proposed approach are presented; the efficiency of 2D CNN is compared to that of one-dimensional (1D) CNN, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP). A three-year historical wind speed dataset from 2020 to 2022 collected at Saskatoon International Airport in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, is used in this study. It is found that 2D CNN shows superior performance in addressing regression and prediction challenges. Experimental results verify that the proposed 2D CNN-based forecasting techniques can provide accurate wind speed prediction. Using deep learning for wind speed prediction can reduce costs while boost energy output and contribute to sustainable and green energy development in Saskatchewan and beyond.