Estimating solar radiation in a clear sky on a horizontal surface from common meteorological a data in Oran, Algeria

Abstract

This study aimed to calibrate existing model (Platt and Paltridge model) and develop a new models for estimating the different components of the solar radiation on a horizontal surface in a clear sky data using commonly and available measured meteorological records such as water vapor tension and temperature, etc. Four models based on meteorological variables were generated and validated using daily data in 2013-2016 at the Oran Station (Algeria). Validation criteria included coefficient of determination, root mean square error and mean bias error, the results showed that the proposed models can estimate solar radiation values. The model based on the temperature and the water vapor tension gives better results with statistical errors obtained are as follows: NDMBE = 13.36 %, NDRMSE = 47.08 % and the correlation coefficient R = 0.85 for the diffused component, the model based on relative humidity and atmospheric pressure gives better results for the direct component with statistical errors obtained are: NDMBE = -1.54 %, NDRMSE = 22.59 % and the correlation coefficient R = 0.95 and The model based on the relative humidity and the water vapor tension with results: NDMBE = 0.96 %, NDRMSE = 12.08 % and the correlation coefficient R = 0.98 for the global component.