Comparison of satellite-retrieved high-resolution solar radiation datasets for South Africa

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2018/v29i2a3376

Keywords:

Satellite retrieved irradiance, global horizontal irradiance, beam normal irradiance, ground stations

Abstract

This study compares the performance of two satellite-based solar radiation methodologies for estimating the solar resource available in South Africa. Data from thirteen stations distributed in six climatic regions were considered. More than one year of hourly values of global horizontal and beam normal irradiance were examined in the validation of the satellite-retrieved estimates at every location. The best satellite method resulted in an overall relative mean bias of 1.41% for the global horizontal irradiance corresponding to almost 3 Wm-2 and exhibited a relative mean bias of 2.85% for the beam normal irradiance estimation (about 7 Wm-2). This satellite-based method was implemented into a geographical information system module, which contained high-resolution terrain data and allowed the effect of the surrounding topography on the estimation of the available solar resource to be considered. These estimates can, therefore, be used as input data for further analysis or applications. As an example, maps of the potential output that could be expected in South Africa from photovoltaic systems were created.

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Author Biography

Lucky Ntsangwane, South African Weather Service

South African Weather Service; Senior Manager: Research and Development

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Published

2018-06-22

How to Cite

Amillo, A. G., Ntsangwane, L., Huld, T., & Trentmann, J. (2018). Comparison of satellite-retrieved high-resolution solar radiation datasets for South Africa. Journal of Energy in Southern Africa, 29(2), 63–76. https://doi.org/10.17159/2413-3051/2018/v29i2a3376