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Developing automated methods to estimate spectrally resolved direct normal irradiance for solar energy applications

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  • Choi, Kelvin, Tsz Hei
  • Brindley, Helen
  • Ekins-Daukes, N.
  • Escobar, Rodrigo

Abstract

We describe four schemes designed to estimate spectrally resolved direct normal irradiance (DNI) for multi-junction concentrator photovoltaic systems applications. The schemes have increasing levels of complexity in terms of aerosol and circumsolar irradiance (CSI) treatment, ranging from a climatological aerosol classification with no account of CSI, to an approach which includes explicit aerosol typing and type dependent CSI contribution. When tested against ground-based broadband and spectral measurements at five sites spanning a range of aerosol conditions, the most sophisticated scheme yields an average bias of +0.068%, well within photometer calibration uncertainties. The average spread of error is 2.5%. These statistics are markedly better than the climatological approach, which carries an average bias of −1.76% and a spread of 4%. They also improve on an intermediate approach which uses Angström exponents to estimate the spectral variation in aerosol optical depth across the solar energy relevant wavelength domain. This approach results in systematic under and over-estimations of DNI at short and long wavelengths respectively. Incorporating spectral CSI particularly benefits sites which experience a significant amount of coarse aerosol. All approaches we describe use freely available reanalyses and software tools, and can be easily applied to alternative aerosol measurements, including those from satellite.

Suggested Citation

  • Choi, Kelvin, Tsz Hei & Brindley, Helen & Ekins-Daukes, N. & Escobar, Rodrigo, 2021. "Developing automated methods to estimate spectrally resolved direct normal irradiance for solar energy applications," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 173(C), pages 1070-1086.
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:renene:v:173:y:2021:i:c:p:1070-1086
    DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2021.03.127
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Del Hoyo, Mirko & Rondanelli, Roberto & Escobar, Rodrigo, 2020. "Significant decrease of photovoltaic power production by aerosols. The case of Santiago de Chile," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 148(C), pages 1137-1149.
    2. Escobar, Rodrigo A. & Cortés, Cristián & Pino, Alan & Pereira, Enio Bueno & Martins, Fernando Ramos & Cardemil, José Miguel, 2014. "Solar energy resource assessment in Chile: Satellite estimation and ground station measurements," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 71(C), pages 324-332.
    3. Marzo, Aitor & Ferrada, Pablo & Beiza, Felipe & Besson, Pierre & Alonso-Montesinos, Joaquín & Ballestrín, Jesús & Román, Roberto & Portillo, Carlos & Escobar, Rodrigo & Fuentealba, Edward, 2018. "Standard or local solar spectrum? Implications for solar technologies studies in the Atacama desert," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 127(C), pages 871-882.
    4. Madkour, M.A. & El-Metwally, M. & Hamed, A.B., 2006. "Comparative study on different models for estimation of direct normal irradiance (DNI) over Egypt atmosphere," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 31(3), pages 361-382.
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    1. Aitor Marzo & Jesús Ballestrín & Joaquín Alonso-Montesinos & Pablo Ferrada & Jesús Polo & Gabriel López & Javier Barbero, 2021. "Field Quality Control of Spectral Solar Irradiance Measurements by Comparison with Broadband Measurements," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-18, September.
    2. Zhang, Yanyun & Xue, Peng & Zhao, Yifan & Zhang, Qianqian & Bai, Gongxun & Peng, Jinqing & Li, Bojia, 2024. "Spectra measurement and clustering analysis of global horizontal irradiance for solar energy application," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 222(C).

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