Empirical models for estimating monthly global solar radiation: A most comprehensive review and comparative case study in China

Ji-Long Chen, Lei He, Hong Yang, Maohua Ma, Qiao Chen, Sheng-Jun Wu and Zuo-lin Xiao

Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, 2019, vol. 108, issue C, 91-111

Abstract: Global solar radiation is a core component of scientific research and engineering application across a broad spectrum. However, its measurement is limited by a small number of stations due to the technical and financial restricts. Estimating solar radiation with the meteorological variables using empirical models is of benefit to obtain solar radiation data at global scale. Yet, there are various options of available empirical models to select the most suitable one. This study conducted a most comprehensive collection and review of empirical models employing the commonly measured meteorological variables and geographic factors. A total of 294 different types of empirical models were collected and classified into 37 groups according to input attributes. Such collection built an empirical model library providing an overall overview of the developed empirical models in literatures. Furthermore, the collected models were calibrated and evaluated at three meteorological stations in the Three Gorges Reservoir Area in China. This study suggests that these model-comparing processes can assist the governments, scientists and engineers in tailoring the most fitted model for specific applications and in particular areas.

Keywords: Global solar radiation; Empirical models; Meteorological variables; Comparisons; Three Gorges Reservoir Area (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2019
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (17)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:rensus:v:108:y:2019:i:c:p:91-111

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DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2019.03.033

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