Preprint Article Version 1 Preserved in Portico This version is not peer-reviewed

Validation of a 3D Local-Scale Adaptive Solar Radiation Model by Using Pyranometer Measurements and High-Resolution DEM

Version 1 : Received: 22 February 2024 / Approved: 22 February 2024 / Online: 4 March 2024 (07:09:50 CET)

A peer-reviewed article of this Preprint also exists.

Rodríguez, E.; García-Ferrero, J.; Sánchez-Aparicio, M.; Iglesias, J.M.; Oliver-Serra, A.; Santos, M.J.; de Andrés-Anaya, P.; Cascón, J.M.; Montero García, G.; Medina, A.; Lagüela, S.; Asensio, M.I.; Montenegro Armas, R. Validation of a 3D Local-Scale Adaptive Solar Radiation Model by Using Pyranometer Measurements and a High-Resolution Digital Elevation Model. Sensors 2024, 24, 1823. Rodríguez, E.; García-Ferrero, J.; Sánchez-Aparicio, M.; Iglesias, J.M.; Oliver-Serra, A.; Santos, M.J.; de Andrés-Anaya, P.; Cascón, J.M.; Montero García, G.; Medina, A.; Lagüela, S.; Asensio, M.I.; Montenegro Armas, R. Validation of a 3D Local-Scale Adaptive Solar Radiation Model by Using Pyranometer Measurements and a High-Resolution Digital Elevation Model. Sensors 2024, 24, 1823.

Abstract

The result of the multidisciplinary collaboration of researchers from different areas of knowledge to validate a solar radiation model is presented. The MAPsol is a 3D local-scale adaptive solar radiation model that allows to estimate direct, diffuse and reflected irradiance for clear sky conditions. The model includes the adaptation of the mesh to complex orography and albedo, and considers the shadows cast by the terrain and buildings. The surface mesh generation is based on surface refinement, smoothing and parameterisation techniques and allows the generation of high quality adapted meshes with a reasonable number of elements. Another key aspect of the paper is the generation of a high-resolution digital elevation model (DEM). This high-resolution DEM is constructed from LiDAR data and its resolution if two times more accurate than the publicly available DEMs. The validation process uses direct and global solar irradiance data obtained from pyranometers at the University of Salamanca located in an urban area affected by systematic shading from nearby buildings. This work provides an efficient protocol for studying solar resources, with particular emphasis on areas of complex orography and dense buildings where shadows can potentially make solar energy production facilities less efficient.

Keywords

Solar radiation; Complex orography; Shadow calculation; LiDAR data; High-resolution DEM; Adaptive mesh; Pyranometer measurement

Subject

Computer Science and Mathematics, Applied Mathematics

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