Preprint Article Version 3 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Evaluation of High-Resolution Satellite-Derived Solar Radiation Data for PV Performance Simulation in East Africa

Version 1 : Received: 26 January 2021 / Approved: 26 January 2021 / Online: 26 January 2021 (20:19:03 CET)
Version 2 : Received: 28 January 2021 / Approved: 28 January 2021 / Online: 28 January 2021 (22:33:26 CET)
Version 3 : Received: 18 March 2021 / Approved: 18 March 2021 / Online: 18 March 2021 (14:30:42 CET)

How to cite: Palmer, D.; Blanchard, R. Evaluation of High-Resolution Satellite-Derived Solar Radiation Data for PV Performance Simulation in East Africa. Preprints 2021, 2021010545. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202101.0545.v3 Palmer, D.; Blanchard, R. Evaluation of High-Resolution Satellite-Derived Solar Radiation Data for PV Performance Simulation in East Africa. Preprints 2021, 2021010545. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints202101.0545.v3

Abstract

Access to reliable, clean, modern cooking enhances life chances. One option is photovoltaic cooking systems. Accurate solar data is needed to ascertain to what extent these can satisfy the needs of local people. This paper investigates how to choose the most accurate satellite derived solar irradiance database for use in Africa. This is necessary because there is a general shortage of ground measurements for Africa. The solar data is needed to model the output of solar cooking systems, for instance, a solar panel, battery and electric pressure cooker. Four easily accessible satellite databases are validated against ground measurements using a range of statistical tests. Results demonstrate the impact of the mathematical measure used and the phenomenon of balancing errors. Fitting of the satellite model to appropriate climate zone and/or nearby measurements improves accuracy, as does higher spatial and temporal resolution of input parameters. That said, all the four databases reviewed were found to be suitable for simulating PV yield in East Africa.

Keywords

Solar radiation; Satellite-derived irradiance; Global Horizontal Irradiance; Clear sky model; ground stations; validation

Subject

Engineering, Energy and Fuel Technology

Comments (1)

Comment 1
Received: 18 March 2021
Commenter: Diane Palmer
Commenter's Conflict of Interests: Author
Comment: New version of one of the satellite databases obtained. This improves the nRMSE of the database but does not alter its performance ranking in comparison to the other databases investigated. Basically this leads to a change in the appearance of Figure 6: "nRMSE of Satellite models and clear-sky model at Lemolo and Echareria, hourly data". 
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