PVWATTS Version 2 -- Enhanced Spatial Resolution for Calculating Grid-Connected PV Performance: Preprint
Presented at the 2001 NCPV Program Review Meeting: Describes the latest version of PVWATTS and how its spatial resolution was improved by a factor of 25. This paper describes the latest version of PVWATTS and how its spatial resolution was improved by a factor of 25 by using a high-resolution (e.g., 40-km by 40-km cells) spatially uniform grid of meteorological input data. Like its predecessor, version 2 is Internet accessible. The user selects a grid cell containing the desired location from an electronic map, thereby initiating a selection by PVWATTS v.2 of the nearest TMY2 station that is climatically similar, followed by an hourly performance simulation for the TMY2 station. Performance is translated back to the selected grid cell based on differences in solar radiation and temperature using previously determined data grid sets of monthly solar radiation and maximum daily temperature.
- Research Organization:
- National Renewable Energy Lab., Golden, CO. (US)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- US Department of Energy (US)
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC36-99-GO10337
- OSTI ID:
- 15000006
- Report Number(s):
- NREL/CP-560-30941; TRN: US200325%%4
- Resource Relation:
- Conference: Presented at the NCPV Program Review Meeting, Lakewood, CO (US), 10/14/2001--10/17/2001; Other Information: PBD: 1 Oct 2001
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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