The accurate prediction of the direct and diffuse solar radiation is of foremost importance for deployment of photovoltaic (PV) systems. A number of solar radiation forecasting techniques have been developed for longer and shorter forecasting times. Numerical weather prediction (NWP) models provide the best results for the longer forecasting times (4–6 h), required by utility companies. However, NWP methods are usually developed for clear-sky and open areas. These methods cannot be directly applied to urban areas with shading, trees, multisurface reflection, and other sources of solar radiation losses. To overcome these issues, improvement to the existing prediction tools are required. In this study, we develop an automated radiation forecasting tool for urban areas. This tool combines a NWP model (Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model) and a solar calculator (developed in the numerical toolbox OpenFOAM) to compute shading, reflection, and other losses in the urban canopy. An algorithm for extraction of building outlines and heights (if they are publicly available) is also developed as a part of the tool. Finally, the coupled solar power estimator can be applied to past, present, or future solar power predictions. Initial results obtained using the developed tool are demonstrated for an urban neighborhood in Singapore.
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December 2018
Technical Briefs
URB-Solar: An Open-Source Tool for Solar Power Prediction in Urban Areas
Venugopalan S. G. Raghavan,
Venugopalan S. G. Raghavan
Fluid Dynamics Department,
Institute of High Performance Computing,
1 Fusionopolis Way #16-16, Connexis,
Singapore 138632
Institute of High Performance Computing,
1 Fusionopolis Way #16-16, Connexis,
Singapore 138632
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Harish Gopalan
Harish Gopalan
Fluid Dynamics Department,
Institute of High Performance Computing,
1 Fusionopolis Way #16-16, Connexis,
Singapore 138632
e-mail: gopalanh@ihpc.a-star.edu.sg
Institute of High Performance Computing,
1 Fusionopolis Way #16-16, Connexis,
Singapore 138632
e-mail: gopalanh@ihpc.a-star.edu.sg
Search for other works by this author on:
Venugopalan S. G. Raghavan
Fluid Dynamics Department,
Institute of High Performance Computing,
1 Fusionopolis Way #16-16, Connexis,
Singapore 138632
Institute of High Performance Computing,
1 Fusionopolis Way #16-16, Connexis,
Singapore 138632
Harish Gopalan
Fluid Dynamics Department,
Institute of High Performance Computing,
1 Fusionopolis Way #16-16, Connexis,
Singapore 138632
e-mail: gopalanh@ihpc.a-star.edu.sg
Institute of High Performance Computing,
1 Fusionopolis Way #16-16, Connexis,
Singapore 138632
e-mail: gopalanh@ihpc.a-star.edu.sg
1Corrsponding author.
Contributed by the Solar Energy Division of ASME for publication in the JOURNAL OF SOLAR ENERGY ENGINEERING: INCLUDING WIND ENERGY AND BUILDING ENERGY CONSERVATION. Manuscript received November 8, 2017; final manuscript received June 20, 2018; published online July 24, 2018. Assoc. Editor: M. Keith Sharp.
J. Sol. Energy Eng. Dec 2018, 140(6): 064501 (6 pages)
Published Online: July 24, 2018
Article history
Received:
November 8, 2017
Revised:
June 20, 2018
Citation
Raghavan, V. S. G., and Gopalan, H. (July 24, 2018). "URB-Solar: An Open-Source Tool for Solar Power Prediction in Urban Areas." ASME. J. Sol. Energy Eng. December 2018; 140(6): 064501. https://doi.org/10.1115/1.4040756
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