Madara Premawardhana was born and raised in Sri Lanka and is a second-year PhD student in computing in the School of Computing at the University of Buckingham. Prior to this, Madara completed her undergraduate education at the University of Moratuwa, where she obtained a Bachelor of Science (Honours) degree in Information Technology. After graduating she gained professional experience as a Senior Software Engineer at SimCentric Technologies (Pvt) Ltd, a company specialising in military simulation technologies.
Madara will be presenting her research in CentreMK on Saturday 6th July. Here she gives us a preview of her work and life as a scientist.
Simulating shadows – how can a shadow affect solar energy production?
I started my journey as a PhD in Computing student at the University of Buckingham in October 2022, driven by a fascination with the virtual worlds I often found myself lost in as a child. It’s no surprise that I gravitated toward research in computer simulations, particularly focusing on Digital Twins for Net-Zero Realization. When we talk about NetZero energy, we’re exploring ways to replace carbon-based sources with cleaner alternatives. The possibilities are exciting: wind, water, and solar energy, each with the potential to power our world sustainably. Digital Twins allow us to simulate these natural forces, creating virtual environments where we can test and refine strategies to achieve Net-Zero.
Have you ever wondered how the energy from the sun could be harnessed to power a lightbulb? Or why, despite the immense power of the sun, do we still rely so heavily on carbon-based energy sources? The answer might seem obvious—many regions don’t get consistent sunlight. But there’s more to the story. Let’s start with a simple fact: “The amount of energy we get from the sun depends on how strong the sunlight is. When there’s more sunlight, we get more energy. If the sunlight gets twice as strong, the energy we get also becomes twice as much. Basically, the energy we get from the sun increases or decreases in direct relation to the strength of the sunlight.”
Understanding this direct relationship is key to grasping how shadows and other factors can affect solar energy production. In the real world, various conditions impact the strength of sunlight reaching the ground. Clouds, shadows from clouds, and different weather patterns all hinder direct sunlight. Then there’s the day-night cycle, a constant and unavoidable shift between daylight and darkness. These are factors we can’t control. However, what we can control is our understanding of when sunlight will be strongest and when it will be weaker, such as during rainy weather or at night. This is where simulation comes into play, offering a unique way to explore solar energy production under various conditions.
Imagine a world within a simulation, designed to replicate the real world, but with the ability to manipulate the weather and day-night cycle. This is what my research is focused on: creating a “Digital Twin” simulation using Unreal Engine, a development platform popular for game design. With the power of different machine learning models, I aim to simulate a realistic environment where we can determine solar energy production and predict outcomes on a large scale.
Using this approach, we can create a digital representation of a real-world location and then manipulate various factors to see how they impact solar energy. For example, we can simulate a day with heavy cloud cover and compare it to a clear day to understand the impact on solar panel output. We can adjust the length of daylight hours to study seasonal variations in solar energy production. By analyzing these scenarios, we gain valuable insights into how best to harness solar energy in different regions and under varying conditions.
The ultimate goal of this research is to improve the efficiency of solar energy production, providing more reliable and sustainable energy sources. By using simulations, we can experiment with different setups and strategies without the cost or risk of real-world trials. This could lead to breakthroughs in renewable energy, paving the way for a greener future.
So, next time you see a cloud passing over a solar panel, remember that it’s not just blocking the sun—it’s also impacting energy production. But with the right simulations and technology, we can find ways to minimize these disruptions and make the most of the sun’s energy, no matter what the weather has in store.
You can find out more from Madara at CentreMK on Saturday 6th July.
Soapbox Science Milton Keynes 