Solar radiation and daylight models.

PrefaceRapid sale of the first edition in a relatively short time plus the need to update informationfor an area of significant activity has dictated the need for the second edition of thisbook. Of late, the rapid deployment of solar photovoltaic technology across the globe hasalso demanded a need for the estimation of the local availability of the solar energyresource. In this respect the user will find that a considerable amount of new information,along with computational tools has been added in this edition.New material and, in most cases, resulting computer programs on the following topicshas been provided:(a) Sun-path diagrams for abbreviated analysis.(b) New data files on measured data sets of irradiance and illuminance.(c) Distance between any two locations (solar radiation measurement site and locationof its utilisation).(d) Characterisation of sky clarity indices and solar climate for any given location.(e) Corrections for sky-diffuse irradiance measurements using a shade-ring device.(f) Quality control of measured solar radiation and daylight data including outlieranalysis.(g) Cloud radiation model.(h) Page radiation model (developed by Emeritus Professor John Page).(i) An extensive section on various forms of turbidity and their inter-relationships.(j) Newer generation of turbidity-based radiation models.(k) The European clear-sky solar radiation model (developed by Emeritus ProfessorJohn Page).(l) Procedures for obtaining sunshine data from cloud cover information and vice versa.(m) Frequency of occurrence of diffuse and global illuminance.(n) Zenith luminance models.(o) New all-sky CIE standard for sky luminance distribution.(p) Spectral radiation.(q) Detailed measured data sets of solar radiation and other meteorological parameters.(r) Web sites that provide solar radiation and daylight data and other related information.In response to a demand from readers and reviewers of this book a section on estimationof clear-sky solar irradiance for any part of the globe has been added.Within the past 5 years there has been an acceleration of activity in the exploitation ofsolar energy and this has primarily resulted from protection of environment pressures. TheKyoto protocol for reduction of carbon dioxide has been an important instrument in thisrespect. Subsidies offered for the use of solar water heating and building integrated photovoltaicinstallations (BIPV technology) within the European Union countries have resulted in a rapid take-off of these and related technologies. Another contributing factor that will eventually lead to the use of solar power within thetransport sector is the spiralling monetary and environment costs associated with the currentuse of fossil fuels. With the rapid decline in the oil reserves within the Gulf of Mexicobasin, Iraq has become the linchpin in the US strategy to secure cheap oil. Between SaudiArabia and Iraq, with their respective proven oil reserves of 262 and 112 billion barrels, astaggering 40% of world’s oil reserves is shared. With the US invasion of Iraq it appears thata new phase of ‘Energy wars’ has started that may indeed spill over to other Opec countries.The repercussions of such actions and the fact that cheaper oil resulting from the ‘capture’of oil reserves will lead to a faster consumption may indeed herald the true age of solarenergy. In this respect world political leaders would be well advised to promote renewableenergy technologies. That is the only and truly sustainable action for the abatement of theeffects of an increase in atmospheric greenhouse gas loading