Solar Radiation Prediction Model for Solar Panel and Thermal Collectors in Malaysia

Abstract

Solar radiation is one of the key inputs of solar system devices. It is intermittent in nature because its intensity varies from sunrise to noon and back to zero at sunset (0 - Maximum- 0) and subject to unpredictable interruption by rain, cloud snow or dust. There is need for the solar information of a particular site before installation in order to achieve optimal operation, but the data is mostly unavailable and expensive where available. This paper presents a novel MATLAB/SIMULINK based hourly solar radiation prediction model for the prediction of hourly and sub-hourly solar radiation of any location, at any time of the year. The developed model predicted the hourly solar energy potential for different cities of Malaysia. The result shows that on March 21, 2013 at noon Jahor Bahru recorded maximum radiation of 1041w/m2 and Kota Bahru with minimum of 1013w/m2. The model was validated using the observed solar radiation values from Renewable Energy Research Office University Putra Malaysia (RERO UPM). The predicted and observed values are in good compliance.