Modelling global solar irradiance for any location on earth through regression analysis using high-resolution data

Abstract

Abstract The focus of this study is to develop a highly accurate formulation to estimate the day number (DN), solar declination angle (SOLDEC), solar altitude angle (SOLALT) and also to predict the diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI), direct normal irradiance (DNI) and global horizontal irradiance (GHI) for any location around the world at any time of the day for both short term and long term periods. Regression analysis is done using continuous 12 years of satellite measured historical solar irradiance, weather and solar angle data in the temporal resolution of 10 minutes for 12 cities around the world such as Kuala Lumpur, Auckland, Tokyo, Riyadh, London, Accra, Antananarivo, Brasilia, Lima, Quito, Ottawa and Honolulu. The models generated through the regression analysis perform better than existing models in predicting the solar irradiance, hence, these models are efficient and reliable for universal global application.