Evaluation of a cloud cover based model for estimation of hourly global solar radiation in Western Canada

Abstract

ABSTRACTCloud cover based solar radiation models are relatively simple and convenient as the models require the input of cloud cover data which are mostly available from the meteorological stations. In this study, the performance of a cloud cover based solar radiation model (Kasten–Czeplak model) with original or locally fitted coefficients was evaluated for estimating the hourly global solar radiation for four different locations in Western Canada. The average value of R2, mean bias error, and root mean square error are 0.69, −61.6, and 157.9 W m−2, respectively, for the model with original coefficients, whereas 0.82, 4.4, 107.1 W m−2 with locally fitted coefficients. Results show that the Kasten–Czeplak model with locally fitted coefficients satisfactorily estimated the hourly solar radiation of four different locations in Western Canada. Also, the results indicate that the model with original coefficients has very limited accuracy under intermediate cloud cover conditions.