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Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II
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Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Energy Science and Technology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (20 September 2021) | Viewed by 33053
Related Special Issue: Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Harry D. Kambezidis

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Atmospheric Research Team, Institute of Environmental Research and Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, Lofos Nymphon, GR-11810 Athens, Greece
2. Soft Energy Systems and Environmental Protection Laboratory, Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of West Attica, P. Ralli & Thivon 250, GR-12244 Egaleo, Greece
Interests: solar radiation; atmospheric aerosols; atmospheric turbidity; daylighting; climatology; meteorology; climate change
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Basil Psiloglou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Institute for Environmental Research & Sustainable Development, National Observatory of Athens, 15236 Athens, Greece
Interests: solar radiation modelling and applications; solar energy; atmospheric physics; meteorology; atmospheric pollution; investigation of climatic parameters' evolution-change; analysis of electricity demand characteristics; air quality, solar radiation, meteorological and hydrological instrumentation and measurements
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The first Special Issue on “Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications”, was a success, with a total of eight papers accepted for publication. Therefore, we have decided to extend the opportunity to other researchers who were not able to submit their work to this Special Issue. It is with this in mind that we are extending this invitation to the solar radiation scientific community to submit your papers to this Special Issue on “Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects And Applications—Volume II”, which is devoted to some of the topics of Volume I as well as new ones.

Solar radiation is recognised as the primary source of life on Earth as it controls various fields, such as atmospheric environment, terrestrial ecosystems, and terrestrial climate. Due to its important role, solar radiation has been the subject of numerous studies mostly focusing on solar measurements and models. No work to our knowledge, such as the present volume and volume I of the Special Issue, has had a holistic approach to solar radiation, i.e., by examining not only issues directly related to solar radiation/energy, but also to applications and effects.

This Special Issue will therefore aim to cover advances in (i) the contemporary use of solar radiation/energy, (ii) modelling of solar radiation with advanced now-casting techniques, (iii) the relation of solar radiation with climate, (iv) and the effects of solar radiation on human health, hydrologic cycles, and weather modification.

Dr. Harry D. Kambezidis
Dr. Basil E. Psiloglou
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • Solar radiation measurements from ground-based stations
  • Solar radiation measurements from satellites
  • Solar radiation as a renewable energy source
  • Solar radiation modelling with focus on regional (country/region) and micro (area) scale
  • Solar radiation nowcasting
  • Interaction of solar radiation with the Earth’s atmosphere
  • Interaction of solar radiation with the atmosphere of other planets in our solar system
  • Relationship of solar radiation variability and the climate on Earth
  • Smart solar radiation applications in view of the close-future depletion of fossil fuels
  • Effects of solar radiation on health
  • Effects of solar radiation on the regional/global hydrologic cycle of the Earth
  • Role of solar radiation in weather modification

Related Special Issue

Published Papers (21 papers)

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31 pages, 14938 KiB  
Article
A New Empirical Approach for Estimating Solar Insolation Using Air Temperature in Tropical and Mountainous Environments
by Laura Sofía Hoyos-Gomez and Belizza Janet Ruiz-Mendoza
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(23), 11491; https://doi.org/10.3390/app112311491 - 3 Dec 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1744
Abstract
Solar irradiance is an available resource that could support electrification in regions that are low on socio-economic indices. Therefore, it is increasingly important to understand the behavior of solar irradiance. and data on solar irradiance. Some locations, especially those with a low socio-economic [...] Read more.
Solar irradiance is an available resource that could support electrification in regions that are low on socio-economic indices. Therefore, it is increasingly important to understand the behavior of solar irradiance. and data on solar irradiance. Some locations, especially those with a low socio-economic population, do not have measured solar irradiance data, and if such information exists, it is not complete. There are different approaches for estimating solar irradiance, from learning models to empirical models. The latter has the advantage of low computational costs, allowing its wide use. Researchers estimate solar energy resources using information from other meteorological variables, such as temperature. However, there is no broad analysis of these techniques in tropical and mountainous environments. Therefore, in order to address this gap, our research analyzes the performance of three well-known empirical temperature-based models—Hargreaves and Samani, Bristol and Campbell, and Okundamiya and Nzeako—and proposes a new one for tropical and mountainous environments. The new empirical technique models daily solar irradiance in some areas better than the other three models. Statistical error comparison allows us to select the best model for each location and determines the data imputation model. Hargreaves and Samani’s model had better results in the Pacific zone with an average RMSE of 936,195 Wh/m2 day, SD of 36,01%, MAE of 748,435 Wh/m2 day, and U95 of 1.836,325 Wh/m2 day. The new proposed model showed better results in the Andean and Amazon zones with an average RMSE of 1.032,99 Wh/m2 day, SD of 34,455 Wh/m2 day, MAE of 825,46 Wh/m2 day, and U95 of 2.025,84 Wh/m2 day. Another result was the linear relationship between the new empirical model constants and the altitude of 2500 MASL (mean above sea level). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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15 pages, 25864 KiB  
Article
Mathematical Determination of the Upper and Lower Limits of the Diffuse Fraction at Any Site
by Harry D. Kambezidis, Styliani I. Kampezidou and Dimitra Kampezidou
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(18), 8654; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188654 - 17 Sep 2021
Cited by 11 | Viewed by 1379
Abstract
A mathematical method for accurately determining the upper and lower diffuse-fraction (kd) limits that divide the sky into clear, intermediate, and overcast is developed. Fourteen sites around the world are selected for demonstrating the methodology. The upper and lower kd [...] Read more.
A mathematical method for accurately determining the upper and lower diffuse-fraction (kd) limits that divide the sky into clear, intermediate, and overcast is developed. Fourteen sites around the world are selected for demonstrating the methodology. The upper and lower kd values for these sites are determined from scatter plots of direct-normal solar radiation vs. kd pairs over the typical meteorological year of each site. They vary between 0.73 and 0.80 for the upper and between 0.24 and 0.27 for the lower kd limits. Plots of sunshine duration (SSD) vs. kd are prepared for 12 of the 14 sites. These plots show a decreasing trend in SSD with increasing values of kd, as anticipated. According to local climatology, the number of the SSD values in each sky-condition classification varies from site-to-site. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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18 pages, 5524 KiB  
Article
Investigation of Applicability of Impact Factors to Estimate Solar Irradiance: Comparative Analysis Using Machine Learning Algorithms
by Jaehoon Cha, Moon Keun Kim, Sanghyuk Lee and Kyeong Soo Kim
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(18), 8533; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11188533 - 14 Sep 2021
Cited by 3 | Viewed by 1686
Abstract
This study explores investigation of applicability of impact factors to estimate solar irradiance by four machine learning algorithms using climatic elements as comparative analysis: linear regression, support vector machines (SVM), a multi-layer neural network (MLNN), and a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network. [...] Read more.
This study explores investigation of applicability of impact factors to estimate solar irradiance by four machine learning algorithms using climatic elements as comparative analysis: linear regression, support vector machines (SVM), a multi-layer neural network (MLNN), and a long short-term memory (LSTM) neural network. The methods show how actual climate factors impact on solar irradiation, and the possibility of estimating one year local solar irradiance using machine learning methodologies with four different algorithms. This study conducted readily accessible local weather data including temperature, wind velocity and direction, air pressure, the amount of total cloud cover, the amount of middle and low-layer cloud cover, and humidity. The results show that the artificial neural network (ANN) models provided more close information on solar irradiance than the conventional techniques (linear regression and SVM). Between the two ANN models, the LSTM model achieved better performance, improving accuracy by 31.7% compared to the MLNN model. Impact factor analysis also revealed that temperature and the amount of total cloud cover are the dominant factors affecting solar irradiance, and the amount of middle and low-layer cloud cover is also an important factor. The results from this work demonstrate that ANN models, especially ones based on LSTM, can provide accurate information of local solar irradiance using weather data without installing and maintaining on-site solar irradiance sensors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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0 pages, 58190 KiB  
Article
Solar Potential in Saudi Arabia for Inclined Flat-Plate Surfaces of Constant Tilt Tracking the Sun
by Ashraf Farahat, Harry D. Kambezidis, Mansour Almazroui and Mohammed Al Otaibi
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(15), 7105; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11157105 - 31 Jul 2021
Cited by 8 | Viewed by 1785
Abstract
The objective of the present work is to investigate the optimally performing tilt angles in Saudi Arabia of solar panels that follow the daily motion of the Sun. To that end, the annual energy sums are estimated for surfaces with tilt angles in [...] Read more.
The objective of the present work is to investigate the optimally performing tilt angles in Saudi Arabia of solar panels that follow the daily motion of the Sun. To that end, the annual energy sums are estimated for surfaces with tilt angles in the range 5°–55° at 82 locations covering all Saudi Arabia. All calculations use a surface albedo of 0.2 and a near-real value, too. It is found that tilt angles of 40°, 45°, and 50°, respectively, are optimal for the three recently defined solar energy zones in Saudi Arabia. The variation of the energy sums in each energy zone on annual, seasonal and monthly basis is given for near-real ground albedos; the analysis provides regression equations for the energy sums as functions of time. A map of the annual global inclined solar energy for Saudi Arabia is derived and presented. The annual energy sums are found to vary between 2159 kWhm−2year−1 and 4078 kWhm−2year−1. Finally, a correction factor, introduced in a recent publication, is used; it is confirmed that the relationship between the correction factor and either the tilt angle or the ground-albedo ratio has a general application and it may constitute a nomogram. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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21 pages, 3492 KiB  
Article
A Comprehensive Application of Machine Learning Techniques for Short-Term Solar Radiation Prediction
by Linhua Wang and Jiarong Shi
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(13), 5808; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11135808 - 23 Jun 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2194
Abstract
Forecasting the output power of solar PV systems is required for the good operation of the power grid and the optimal management of energy fluxes occurring in the solar system. Before forecasting the solar system’s output, it is essential to focus on the [...] Read more.
Forecasting the output power of solar PV systems is required for the good operation of the power grid and the optimal management of energy fluxes occurring in the solar system. Before forecasting the solar system’s output, it is essential to focus on the prediction of solar irradiance. In this paper, the solar radiation data collected for two years in a certain place in Jiangsu in China are investigated. The objective of this paper is to improve the ability of short-term solar radiation prediction. Firstly, missing data are recovered through the means of matrix completion. Then the completed data are denoised via robust principal component analysis. To reduce the influence of weather types on solar radiation, spectral clustering is adopted by fusing sparse subspace representation and k-nearest-neighbor to partition the data into three clusters. Next, for each cluster, four neural networks are established to predict the short-term solar radiation. The experimental results show that the proposed method can enhance the solar radiation accuracy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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17 pages, 9731 KiB  
Article
Experimental Validation of a Thermo-Electric Model of the Photovoltaic Module under Outdoor Conditions
by Klemen Sredenšek, Bojan Štumberger, Miralem Hadžiselimović, Sebastijan Seme and Klemen Deželak
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 5287; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115287 - 7 Jun 2021
Cited by 5 | Viewed by 2153
Abstract
An operating temperature of the photovoltaic (PV) module greatly affects performance and its lifetime. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate operating temperature of the photovoltaic module in different weather conditions and how it affects its performance. The primary objective of this paper is [...] Read more.
An operating temperature of the photovoltaic (PV) module greatly affects performance and its lifetime. Therefore, it is essential to evaluate operating temperature of the photovoltaic module in different weather conditions and how it affects its performance. The primary objective of this paper is to present a dynamic thermo-electric model for determining the temperature and output power of the photovoltaic module. The presented model is validated with field measurement at the Institute of Energy Technology, Faculty of Energy Technology, University of Maribor, Slovenia. The presented model was compared with other models in different weather conditions, such as clear, cloudy and overcast. The evaluation was performed for the operating temperature and output power of the photovoltaic module using Root-Mean-Square-Error (RMSE) and Mean-Absolute-Error (MAE). The average RMSE and MAE values are 1.75 °C and 1.14 °C for the thermal part and 20.34 W and 10.97 W for the electrical part. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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14 pages, 2077 KiB  
Article
Photovoltaic Prediction Software: Evaluation with Real Data from Northern Spain
by David González-Peña, Ignacio García-Ruiz, Montserrat Díez-Mediavilla, Mª. Isabel Dieste-Velasco and Cristina Alonso-Tristán
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(11), 5025; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11115025 - 29 May 2021
Cited by 19 | Viewed by 3831
Abstract
Prediction of energy production is crucial for the design and installation of PV plants. In this study, five free and commercial software tools to predict photovoltaic energy production are evaluated: RETScreen, Solar Advisor Model (SAM), PVGIS, PVSyst, and PV*SOL. The evaluation involves a [...] Read more.
Prediction of energy production is crucial for the design and installation of PV plants. In this study, five free and commercial software tools to predict photovoltaic energy production are evaluated: RETScreen, Solar Advisor Model (SAM), PVGIS, PVSyst, and PV*SOL. The evaluation involves a comparison of monthly and annually predicted data on energy supplied to the national grid with real field data collected from three real PV plants. All the systems, located in Castile and Leon (Spain), have three different tilting systems: fixed mounting, horizontal-axis tracking, and dual-axis tracking. The last 12 years of operating data, from 2008 to 2020, are used in the evaluation. Although the commercial software tools were easier to use and their installations could be described in detail, their results were not appreciably superior. In annual global terms, the results hid poor estimations throughout the year, where overestimations were compensated by underestimated results. This fact was reflected in the monthly results: the software yielded overestimates during the colder months, while the models showed better estimates during the warmer months. In most studies, the deviation was below 10% when the annual results were analyzed. The accuracy of the software was also reduced when the complexity of the dual-axis solar tracking systems replaced the fixed installation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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27 pages, 4803 KiB  
Article
Global Solar Radiation Transfer and Its Loss in the Atmosphere
by Jianhui Bai and Xuemei Zong
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(6), 2651; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11062651 - 16 Mar 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 2492
Abstract
Based on the analysis of solar radiation and meteorological parameters measured at a subtropical forest in China during 2013–2016, a new empirical model of global solar irradiance has been developed. It can calculate global solar irradiance at the ground and at the top [...] Read more.
Based on the analysis of solar radiation and meteorological parameters measured at a subtropical forest in China during 2013–2016, a new empirical model of global solar irradiance has been developed. It can calculate global solar irradiance at the ground and at the top of the atmosphere (TOA); both are in agreement with the observations. This model is used to calculate the extinction of global solar irradiance in the atmosphere and the contributions from absorbing and scattering substances. The loss of global solar irradiance is dominated by absorbing and absorbing substances. The results show clear seasonal and interannual variations during the observation period. Sensitivity analysis indicates that global solar irradiance is more sensitive to changes in scattering, quantified by the S/G factor (S and G are diffuse and global solar radiation, respectively), than to changes in absorption. The relationships between the extinction factor (AF) of G and S/G and between the AF and the aerosol optical depth (AOD) are determined and used to estimate S/G and the AOD from the measured AF. This empirical model is applied to calculate the albedos at the TOA and the ground. This empirical model is useful to study global solar radiation and the energy–atmosphere interactions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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17 pages, 5004 KiB  
Article
A Digital Framework to Predict the Sunshine Requirements of Landscape Plants
by Heyi Wei, Wenhua Jiang, Xuejun Liu and Bo Huang
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(5), 2098; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11052098 - 27 Feb 2021
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2040
Abstract
Knowledge of the sunshine requirements of landscape plants is important information for the adaptive selection and configuration of plants for urban greening, and is also a basic attribute of plant databases. In the existing studies, the light compensation point (LCP) and light saturation [...] Read more.
Knowledge of the sunshine requirements of landscape plants is important information for the adaptive selection and configuration of plants for urban greening, and is also a basic attribute of plant databases. In the existing studies, the light compensation point (LCP) and light saturation point (LSP) have been commonly used to indicate the shade tolerance for a specific plant; however, these values are difficult to adopt in practice because the landscape architect does not always know what range of solar radiation is the best for maintaining plant health, i.e., normal growth and reproduction. In this paper, to bridge the gap, we present a novel digital framework to predict the sunshine requirements of landscape plants. First, the research introduces the proposed framework, which is composed of a black-box model, solar radiation simulation, and a health standard system for plants. Then, the data fitting between solar radiation and plant growth response is used to obtain the value of solar radiation at different health levels. Finally, we adopt the LI-6400XT Portable Photosynthetic System (Li-Cor Inc., Lincoln, NE, USA) to verify the stability and accuracy of the digital framework through 15 landscape plant species of a residential area in the city of Wuhan, China, and also compared and analyzed the results of other researchers on the same plant species. The results show that the digital framework can robustly obtain the values of the healthy, sub-healthy, and unhealthy levels for the 15 landscape plant species. The purpose of this study is to provide an efficient forecasting tool for large-scale surveys of plant sunshine requirements. The proposed framework will be beneficial for the adaptive selection and configuration of urban plants and will facilitate the construction of landscape plant databases in future studies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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27 pages, 11204 KiB  
Article
Estimation of the Optimum Energy Received by Solar Energy Flat-Plate Convertors in Greece Using Typical Meteorological Years. Part I: South-Oriented Tilt Angles
by Harry D. Kambezidis and Basil E. Psiloglou
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(4), 1547; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11041547 - 8 Feb 2021
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2850
Abstract
The optimal solar radiation received on an inclined surface is always critical for energy purposes at a location or in an area. Therefore, many attempts have been made worldwide to calculate the optimum tilt angle for this purpose. The present study gives an [...] Read more.
The optimal solar radiation received on an inclined surface is always critical for energy purposes at a location or in an area. Therefore, many attempts have been made worldwide to calculate the optimum tilt angle for this purpose. The present study gives an answer about the south-oriented inclination or inclinations of solar panels in Greece for maximum efficiency. The analysis shows that an angle of 25° (and 30° in some cases) facing south is the most appropriate. To calculate this, the energy sums received on surfaces with inclination angles of 0–60° with a step of 5°, including φ° (φ being the geographical latitude) facing south at 33 locations in Greece were analyzed monthly, seasonally, and annually. The solar radiation data used in this work comes from corresponding typical meteorological years (TMYs) generated for the above locations. TMYs are used for the first time worldwide for the study of the optimum energy received by solar panels tilted south. Four new energy zones are defined to cover the whole of Greece. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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30 pages, 6565 KiB  
Article
Characteristics of Downward and Upward Longwave Radiation at Athalassa, an Inland Location of the Island of Cyprus
by Stelios Pashiardis and Soteris A. Kalogirou
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(2), 719; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11020719 - 13 Jan 2021
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 3984
Abstract
In this study, two years of hourly longwave downward and upward irradiance measurements at Athalassa, an inland location, are used to analyze and compare them. A detailed quality control process was followed according to the suggested tests proposed by the Baseline Surface Radiation [...] Read more.
In this study, two years of hourly longwave downward and upward irradiance measurements at Athalassa, an inland location, are used to analyze and compare them. A detailed quality control process was followed according to the suggested tests proposed by the Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN) group. The criteria involved are based on physically possible, extremely rare and climatological limits. Furthermore, comparison tests were also applied between the two longwave components as well as with air and ground surface temperatures. Additionally, time consistency and persistency tests were applied. All the suspect data were excluded from the analysis. The data showed that the frequency distribution of downward longwave irradiances follows a normal distribution function, while the upward longwave follows an almost normal distribution but with a long positive tail. The annual mean daily downward longwave irradiation is 27.3 MJ m−2 and the annual mean daily upward longwave irradiation is 37.8 MJ m−2. The net longwave irradiation is always negative ranging from −5.9 to −12.1 MJ/m2. Various models were tested to estimate daylight and all day downward and upward longwave irradiances under clear-sky and all-sky conditions. For the comparison of measured and estimated values the root-mean-square errors and linear regression correlations have been used. The results of this comparison showed that Idso’s and Brunt’s models perform well, and they can be used to estimate downward longwave irradiance under clear-sky conditions. Furthermore, both models were extended to estimate the daylight downward longwave irradiance under all-sky conditions by taking into account the ratio of global to the clear-sky global solar irradiance. In this case, the RMSE of the local calibrated coefficients scheme of Idso’s model was 30.6 W m−2, while Brunt’s model showed slightly lower value (29.0 W m−2). Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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14 pages, 7475 KiB  
Article
Photosynthetic Active Radiation, Solar Irradiance and the CIE Standard Sky Classification
by Ana García-Rodríguez, Sol García-Rodríguez, Montserrat Díez-Mediavilla and Cristina Alonso-Tristán
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(22), 8007; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10228007 - 12 Nov 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2992
Abstract
Plant growth is directly related to levels of photosynthetic photon flux density, Qp. The improvement of plant-growth models therefore requires accurate estimations of the Qp parameter that is often indirectly calculated on the basis of its relationship with solar irradiation, [...] Read more.
Plant growth is directly related to levels of photosynthetic photon flux density, Qp. The improvement of plant-growth models therefore requires accurate estimations of the Qp parameter that is often indirectly calculated on the basis of its relationship with solar irradiation, RS, due to the scarcity of ground measurements of photosynthetic photon flux density. In this experimental campaign in Burgos, Spain, between April 2019 and January 2020, an average value of the Qp/Rs ratio is determined on the basis of measurements at ten-minute intervals. The most influential factor in the Qp/Rs ratio, over and above any daily or seasonal pattern, is the existence of overcast sky conditions. The CIE standard sky classification can be used to establish an unequivocal characterization of the cloudiness conditions of homogeneous skies. In this study, the relation between the CIE standard sky type and Qp/Rs is investigated. Its conclusions were that the Qp/Rs values, the average of which was 1.93±0.15 μmol·J−1, presented statistically significant differences for each CIE standard sky type. The overcast sky types presented the highest values of the ratio, while the clear sky categories presented the lowest and most dispersed values. During the experimental campaign, only two exceptions were noted for covered and partial covered sky-type categories, respectively, sky types 5 and 9. Their values were closer to those of categories classified as clear sky according to the CIE standard. Both categories presented high uniformity in terms of illumination. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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14 pages, 4246 KiB  
Article
Erythemal Solar Irradiance, UVER, and UV Index from Ground-Based Data in Central Spain
by Julia Bilbao and Argimiro de Migue
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(18), 6589; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10186589 - 21 Sep 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 5401
Abstract
The study shows an analysis of a 7-year data set measuring Ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiance values and ultraviolet index TABLEUVI) values derived from ground-based broadband irradiance measurements, satellite-derived total ozone, and UVB solar irradiance recorded in Valladolid (Central Spain). Ultraviolet-B (UVB) solar irradiance measurements [...] Read more.
The study shows an analysis of a 7-year data set measuring Ultraviolet-B (UVB) irradiance values and ultraviolet index TABLEUVI) values derived from ground-based broadband irradiance measurements, satellite-derived total ozone, and UVB solar irradiance recorded in Valladolid (Central Spain). Ultraviolet-B (UVB) solar irradiance measurements in the range (280–315 nm) carried out during the period 2013–2019 at a continental Mediterranean solar station, located in Valladolid (Spain), were analyzed. UVB data recorded using a YES UVB-1 pyranometer were used to estimate erythemal irradiance, ultraviolet erythemal irradiance (UVER), UVI, cumulative dose, and sun protection. Hourly UVER data in January (minimum values) and June (maximum values) were analyzed as an average year for the measurement station. Differences between UVI values at solar noon and the maximum daily value were minimal. It was found that on certain summer days, maximum daily UVI and SED (cumulative daily dose) could be over 12 and 60, respectively. The cumulative dose on the horizontal surface was calculated at the station for different skin types. It was observed that over 45% of the annual dose is received in summer, about 30% in spring, over 15% in autumn, and less than 10% in winter. In addition, the relationship between the maximum daily UVI and the annual accumulated dose in SEDs was studied to provide information on sun protection under low UVI conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications)
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16 pages, 5207 KiB  
Article
GPU-Enabled Shadow Casting for Solar Potential Estimation in Large Urban Areas. Application to the Solar Cadaster of Greater Geneva
by Nabil Stendardo, Gilles Desthieux, Nabil Abdennadher and Peter Gallinelli
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(15), 5361; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10155361 - 3 Aug 2020
Cited by 16 | Viewed by 2798
Abstract
In the context of encouraging the development of renewable energy, this paper deals with the description of a software solution for mapping out solar potential in a large scale and in high resolution. We leverage the performance provided by Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) [...] Read more.
In the context of encouraging the development of renewable energy, this paper deals with the description of a software solution for mapping out solar potential in a large scale and in high resolution. We leverage the performance provided by Graphics Processing Units (GPUs) to accelerate shadow casting procedures (used both for direct sunlight exposure and the sky view factor), as well as use off-the-shelf components to compute an average weather pattern for a given area. Application of the approach is presented in the context of the solar cadaster of Greater Geneva (2000 km2). The results show that doing the analysis on a square tile of 3.4 km at a resolution of 0.5 m takes up to two hours, which is better than what we were achieving with the previous work. This shows that GPU-based calculations are highly competitive in the field of solar potential modeling. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications)
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17 pages, 3755 KiB  
Article
Influence of Surface Reflection (Albedo) in Simulating the Sun Drying of Paddy Rice
by Ana Salvatierra-Rojas, Victor Torres-Toledo and Joachim Müller
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(15), 5092; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10155092 - 24 Jul 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2830
Abstract
The sun drying of agricultural products is a complicated process involving heat transfer, mass transfer, and variable weather conditions. Surface reflection (albedo), a crop’s radiative property, plays an essential role in energy balance, and understanding its contribution can improve the thermal analysis. In [...] Read more.
The sun drying of agricultural products is a complicated process involving heat transfer, mass transfer, and variable weather conditions. Surface reflection (albedo), a crop’s radiative property, plays an essential role in energy balance, and understanding its contribution can improve the thermal analysis. In this study, field experiments were conducted in the Philippines to explore the influence of surface albedo on the sun drying of paddy rice. First, we implemented energy and mass balance equations in a transient model with the surroundings using a graphical programming language in Matlab/Simulink®. Second, we identified the influence of albedo on the sun drying model by using a sensitivity analysis. Third, we investigated the relationship of paddy rice albedo and the solar zenith angle. Lastly, we integrated the albedo function into the sun drying model. The simulation outputs were validated with field experiments. A better estimation of the measured exit temperature and instantaneous mass were obtained when a variable albedo was applied. This study makes clear that introducing a variable albedo has a positive impact on model improvement. This information is important for application in solar drying technologies, so that the drying process can be better assessed. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications)
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22 pages, 2291 KiB  
Article
The Buying Time Argument within the Solar Radiation Management Discourse
by Frederike Neuber and Konrad Ott
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(13), 4637; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10134637 - 4 Jul 2020
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 3448
Abstract
In this article, we will establish a version of the buying time argument (BTA) in favor of Sulphur Aerosol Injection (SAI) Climate Engineering (CE). The idea is not to promote the deployment of such scheme, but rather to present the strongest possible argument [...] Read more.
In this article, we will establish a version of the buying time argument (BTA) in favor of Sulphur Aerosol Injection (SAI) Climate Engineering (CE). The idea is not to promote the deployment of such scheme, but rather to present the strongest possible argument pro SAI in order to look at its presuppositions, implications, critical points and uncertainties. In discussing BTA being the only morally sound argument in favor of SAI, the stakes and the overall framework will become visible. If, however, the strongest pro-SAI argument enables us to recognize some major flaws of this technology, this option should be disregarded. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications)
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31 pages, 11577 KiB  
Article
Climatology of the Linke and Unsworth–Monteith Turbidity Parameters for Greece: Introduction to the Notion of a Typical Atmospheric Turbidity Year
by Harry D. Kambezidis and Basil E. Psiloglou
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(11), 4043; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10114043 - 11 Jun 2020
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2895
Abstract
Solar rays are attenuated by the Earth’s atmosphere. This attenuation can be expressed by the turbidity parameters; two of them are the Linke turbidity factor (TL) and the Unsworth–Monteith turbidity coefficient (TUM). In this sudy, both parameters [...] Read more.
Solar rays are attenuated by the Earth’s atmosphere. This attenuation can be expressed by the turbidity parameters; two of them are the Linke turbidity factor (TL) and the Unsworth–Monteith turbidity coefficient (TUM). In this sudy, both parameters are estimated for 33 sites across Greece, and the notion of a Typical Atmospheric Turbidity Year (TATY) is also introduced. Use of the modified clearness index (k’t) is made, while a suggestion for a modified diffuse fraction (k’d) is given. The adoption of the four climatic zones in Greece for energy purposes is made, where the variation of TL and TUM is studied during a TATY under all and clear-sky conditions. The analysis shows maximum levels in both parameters in late winter–early spring in morning and evening hours, with minimum values at midday. The intra-annual variation of the parameters shows maximum values around March and August and minimum values in summertime and late winter. Maps of annual mean TL and TUM values over Greece show persistent minimum values over Peloponnese and maximum values over South Ionian Sea. Linear expressions of TUM vs. TL are derived for all sites under all and clear-sky conditions. Finally, linear expressions for k’d vs. k’t are given for all sites and sky conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications)
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15 pages, 3941 KiB  
Article
Evaluation of the Vertical Sky Component without Obstructions for Daylighting in Burgos, Spain
by Diego Granados-López, Montserrat Díez-Mediavilla, M. Isabel Dieste-Velasco, Andrés Suárez-García and Cristina Alonso-Tristán
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(9), 3095; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10093095 - 29 Apr 2020
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 4499
Abstract
Daylight availability knowledge is the first step for an energetic and visually efficient building and city design. It can be estimated with the Vertical Sky Component (VSC), which is defined as the ratio of the vertical diffuse illuminance over the unobstructed horizontal diffuse [...] Read more.
Daylight availability knowledge is the first step for an energetic and visually efficient building and city design. It can be estimated with the Vertical Sky Component (VSC), which is defined as the ratio of the vertical diffuse illuminance over the unobstructed horizontal diffuse illuminance, simultaneously measured at the same point. These illuminance magnitudes are obtained from luxmeter measurements but these data are scarce. Alternatively, VSC can be obtained from prior knowledge of the sky illuminance distribution, which can be measured with a sky scanner device or by reference to the CIE (Commission Internationale de L’Éclairage) Standard classification for homogeneous skies. Both approaches are compared in this study. The coherence of the results obtained for the four cardinal orientations are analyzed by applying classical statistical parameters and luxmeter measurements as references for the results. The measurement campaign was completed between September 2016 and January 2019 in Burgos (Spain), as representative case study and specific contribution of this work. It was observed that the VSC values were higher than 100 in many cases: 21.94% for the south- and 33.6% for the east-facing vertical surfaces. The study highlights the good daylighting conditions in Burgos, mainly due to the predominance of clear skies over much of the year. This fact implies high daylight availability that, with efficient city planning and building design, could potentially lead reduction energy consumption of buildings, improvements in visual comfort, and the well-being of occupants. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications)
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9 pages, 1297 KiB  
Article
Estimating Daily Global Solar Radiation with No Meteorological Data in Poland
by Małgorzata Kleniewska, Dorota Mitrowska and Michał Wasilewicz
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(3), 778; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10030778 - 22 Jan 2020
Cited by 7 | Viewed by 3203
Abstract
The aim of the study was to calibrate coefficients and evaluate performance of simple, day-of-the-year, global solar radiation (H) models nominated from the literature. Day-of-the-year models enable estimation of global solar radiation when no meteorological data is available. The study used 16-year-long data [...] Read more.
The aim of the study was to calibrate coefficients and evaluate performance of simple, day-of-the-year, global solar radiation (H) models nominated from the literature. Day-of-the-year models enable estimation of global solar radiation when no meteorological data is available. The study used 16-year-long data series of daily H, taken at 15 actinometric stations located in various parts of Poland. The goodness-of-fit of the models to the actual long-term monthly average daily global solar radiation data expressed by determination coefficient (R2) ranges from 0.94 to 0.97. Depending on statistical indicators analysis (root mean square error—RMSE, mean absolute bias error—MABE, mean average percentage error—MAPE) the best model was selected. The averaged values of H computed by the recommended model deviate from those measured by 4.16% to 8.71%. Locally calibrated, day-of-the-year model provides satisfactory accuracy and—where meteorological data is unavailable—can be used to estimate mean monthly daily global solar radiation in Poland and similar climate conditions. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications)
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15 pages, 7087 KiB  
Article
Accurate Output Forecasting Method for Various Photovoltaic Modules Considering Incident Angle and Spectral Change Owing to Atmospheric Parameters and Cloud Conditions
by Hiroki Tawa, Hiromu Saiki, Yasuyuki Ota, Kenji Araki, Tatsuya Takamoto and Kensuke Nishioka
Appl. Sci. 2020, 10(2), 703; https://doi.org/10.3390/app10020703 - 19 Jan 2020
Cited by 20 | Viewed by 5073
Abstract
Because semiconductors absorb wavelengths dependent on the light absorption coefficient, photovoltaic (PV) energy output is affected by the solar spectrum. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the solar spectrum for highly accurate PV output estimation. Bird’s model has been used as a general [...] Read more.
Because semiconductors absorb wavelengths dependent on the light absorption coefficient, photovoltaic (PV) energy output is affected by the solar spectrum. Therefore, it is necessary to consider the solar spectrum for highly accurate PV output estimation. Bird’s model has been used as a general spectral model. However, atmospheric parameters such as aerosol optical depth and precipitable water have a constant value in the model that only applies to clear days. In this study, atmospheric parameters were extracted using the Bird’s spectrum model from the measured global spectrum and the seasonal fluctuation of atmospheric parameters was examined. We propose an overcast spectrum model and calculate the all-weather solar spectrum from clear to overcast sky through linear combination. Three types of PV modules (fixed Si, two-axis tracking Si, and fixed InGaP/GaAs/InGaAs triple-junction solar cells) were installed at the University of Miyazaki. The estimated performance ratio (PR), which takes into account incident angle and spectral variations, was consistent with the measured PR. Finally, the energy yield of various PVs installed across Japan was successfully estimated. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications)
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14 pages, 1510 KiB  
Case Report
Optimal Tilt and Orientation Angles in Fixed Flat Surfaces to Maximize the Capture of Solar Insolation: A Case Study in Ecuador
by Xavier Serrano-Guerrero, Eduardo Cantos, Juan-Javier Feijoo, Antonio Barragán-Escandón and Jean-Michel Clairand
Appl. Sci. 2021, 11(10), 4546; https://doi.org/10.3390/app11104546 - 17 May 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2706
Abstract
Due to the increasing attention of PV generation, and to the uncertainty of the real PV electrical power output, power system are facing planning challenges. Hence, this case report proposes a computer application that determines the optimal tilt and orientation angles of flat [...] Read more.
Due to the increasing attention of PV generation, and to the uncertainty of the real PV electrical power output, power system are facing planning challenges. Hence, this case report proposes a computer application that determines the optimal tilt and orientation angles of flat surfaces to maximize solar insolation capture based on existing mathematical models. The study uses data from different meteorological variables measured and estimated through a typical year from the most populated Ecuador cities. The computer application considers the global, diffuse, direct, reflected radiation, and the angle of incidence of the sun. This analysis reveals the angle of inclination and orientation where the highest percentage of insolation is obtained in Ecuador’s main cities. The results suggest that, in Ecuador, flat solar capture surfaces can be oriented between 20° and 60° concerning north, and with tilt angles between 12° and 19°. This contrasts with the literature, which recommends an orientation to the equator and an inclination equal to the location’s latitude. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Solar Radiation: Measurements and Modelling, Effects and Applications—Volume II)
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