Radiometric models and generation of the U.S. National Solar Radiation Data Base

Conference · Fri Sep 01 04:00:00 EDT 1995

OSTI ID:134987

Maxwell, E L ^[1]

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1. National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)

More than 90% of the solar radiation data in the National Solar Radiation Data Base (NSRDB Vol. 1 1992) were either derived using a METeorological/STATistical (METSTAT) model or were modified using a procedure that involved METSTAT. The impact of modeling on the NSRDB is not unique. All of the data in the SOLar radiation and METeorological (SOLMET) data base and the Typical Meterological Year (TMY) data sets derived from it were affected in one way or another by modeling (SOLMET vol. 2 1979). This paper describes several types of solar radiation models used in producing both the SOLMET and NSRDB data bases. The results of evaluations of METSTAT provide insight into the overall quality of the NSRDB. Differences between the SOLMET and NSRDB data bases are then examined with respect to the different models used in their development. This provides the reader with information regarding the effect of modeling on these data bases and their relative strengths and weaknesses. The paper concludes with a brief description of current research at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) involving the use of a simplified version of METSTAT to estimate monthly mean daily-total solar radiation for every point on a uniform grid covering the United States, Mexico, and the Caribbean.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO (United States)
• OSTI ID: 134987
• Report Number(s): NREL/CP--411-20008; CONF-9507183--; ON: DE95009297
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

14 SOLAR ENERGY
99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS
DATA BASE MANAGEMENT
INFORMATION SYSTEMS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
SOLAR RADIATION