Forecasting of Solar Radiation using an Empirical Model

Abstract

Global demand for energy is increasing rapidly and natural energy resources such as oil, gas and uranium are declining due to the widespread diffusion and development of the industry in recent years. To cover energy needs, research is being conducted on renewable energy. One of the renewable energies that can meet the world's demand so far is solar energy, which is free and inexhaustible in most parts of the world, and it has become an economic source. In this article we will make a forecast of the empirical Campbell model which will allow us to estimate the daily global irradiation on a horizontal plane and to compare it with the results measured at the Adrar site. The results show that the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) less than 7%, the mean bias error does not exceed 3% in absolute value, relative RMSE does not exceed 7% and the correlation coefficient greater than 0.99 for the annual global radiation. It was concluded that this model could be used to predict the global solar radiation for Adrar site and for other sites with similar climatic conditions.