Written by a leading scientist with over 35 years of experience working at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Solar Radiation: Practical Modeling for Renewable Energy Applications brings together the most widely used, easily implemented concepts and models for estimating broadband and spectral solar radiation data. The author addresses various technical and practical questions about the accuracy of solar radiation measurements and modeling. While the focus is on engineering models and results, the book does review the fundamentals of solar radiation modeling and solar radiation measurements. It also examines the accuracy of solar radiation modeling and measurements. The majority of the book describes the most popular simple models for estimating broadband and spectral solar resources available to flat plate, concentrating, photovoltaic, solar thermal, and daylighting engineering designs. Sufficient detail is provided for readers to implement the models in assorted development environments. Covering the nuts and bolts of practical solar radiation modeling applications, this book helps readers translate solar radiation data into viable, real-world renewable energy applications. It answers many how-to questions relating to solar energy conversion systems, solar daylighting, energy efficiency of buildings, and other solar radiation applications.

Two essential components of solar energy which are derivable from the sun-radiant light (passive solar power) and heat (active solar powers) have been harnessed for decades using a range of continuously-evolving and cutting-edge technologies. Such technologies include solar heating, solar photovoltaics, solar thermal energy, solar architecture and photo emitters. Recently, there has been active research in solar energy resources due to improvements in solar panel geometry, photo-cell materials, glazing and panel orientation. Equally, more rigorous methods of modeling inter-reflections within curvilinear surfaces are now being evaluated for simplified analytical evaluations. Therefore, this book, Solar Radiation Applications, presents the outcomes of selective and classic works on the optimization of these essential fields in active solar energy research.

An Introduction to Solar Radiation is an introductory text on solar radiation, with emphasis on the methods of calculation for determining the amount of solar radiation incident on a surface on the earth. Topics covered include the astronomical relationship between the sun and the earth; thermal radiation; the solar constant and its spectral distribution; and extraterrestrial solar irradiation. This book is comprised of 12 chapters and begins with an overview of the trigonometric relationships between the sun-earth line and the position of an inclined surface, followed by a discussion on the characteristics of blackbody radiation. The next chapter focuses on the solar constant and its spectral distribution, paying particular attention to extraterrestrial solar spectral irradiance and the sun's blackbody temperature. Subsequent chapters explore extraterrestrial and radiation incident on inclined planes; the optics of a cloudless-sky atmosphere; solar spectral radiation and total (broadband) radiation under cloudless skies; and solar radiation arriving at horizontal surfaces on the earth through cloudy skies. The ground albedo and its spectral and angular variation are also described, along with insolation on inclined surfaces. The last chapter is devoted to instruments for measuring solar radiation, including pyrheliometers and pyranometers. This monograph will serve as a useful guide for energy analysts, designers of thermal devices, architects and engineers, agronomists, and hydrologists as well as senior graduate students.

Solar radiation data is important for a wide range of applications, e.g. in engineering, agriculture, health sector, and in many fields of the natural sciences. A few examples showing the diversity of applications may include: architecture and building design, e.g. air conditioning and cooling systems; solar heating system design and use; solar power generation; evaporation and irrigation; calculation of water requirements for crops; monitoring plant growth and disease control; skin cancer research.

Renewable energy sources such as solar energy were advocated even before the energy crisis in 1973. Subsequent development in solar energy has been remarkable. Indeed it has been one of the most studied and researched topics in recent years. Much of the technology in the utilization of solar energy has been associated with housing and industrial applications, and, to a smaller extent, with commercial use. The nature of the utilization has been related to the philosophy of independence or autonomy in that each housing or industrial unit is made self-sufficient by the installation of solar energy equipment. The general aim of the development of solar energy has been to substitute existing energy sources by solar energy especially among the developed countries in the temperate regions. In developing countries, the application of solar technology has been more acceptable in rural areas where conventional infrastructure is under developed. A different direction is necessary for the development of solar energy in urban areas. Buildings are inter-related, and have been dependent on the conventional infrastructure. The consumption of energy is many times more than that in the rural areas. A new approach to urban development must be generated, and studies should be made on the feasibility and viability of using solar energy for urban settlements.

Accurate solar radiation knowledge and its characterization on the Earth’s surface are of high interest in many aspects of environmental and engineering sciences. Modeling of solar irradiance from satellite imagery has become the most widely used method for retrieving solar irradiance information under total sky conditions, particularly in the solar energy community. Solar radiation modeling, forecasting, and characterization continue to be broad areas of study, research, and development in the scientific community. This Special Issue contains a small sample of the current activities in this field. Both the environmental and climatology community, as the solar energy world, share a great interest in improving modeling tools and capabilities for obtaining more reliable and accurate knowledge of solar irradiance components worldwide. The work presented in this Special Issue also remarks on the significant role that remote sensing technologies play in retrieving and forecasting solar radiation information.

Can we unlock resilience to climate stress by better understanding linkages between the environment and biological systems? Agroclimatology allows us to explore how different processes determine plant response to climate and how climate drives the distribution of crops and their productivity. Editors Jerry L. Hatfield, Mannava V.K. Sivakumar, and John H. Prueger have taken a comprehensive view of agroclimatology to assist and challenge researchers in this important area of study. Major themes include: principles of energy exchange and climatology, understanding climate change and agriculture, linkages of specific biological systems to climatology, the context of pests and diseases, methods of agroclimatology, and the application of agroclimatic principles to problem-solving in agriculture.

The updated, cornerstone engineering resource of solar energy theory and applications. Solar technologies already provide energy for heat, light, hot water, electricity, and cooling for homes, businesses, and industry. Because solar energy only accounts for one-tenth of a percent of primary energy demand, relatively small increases in market penetration can lead to very rapid growth rates in the industryâ??which is exactly what has been projected for coming years as the world moves away from carbon-based energy production. Solar Engineering of Thermal Processes, Third Edition provides the latest thinking and practices for engineering solar technologies and using them in various markets. This Third Edition of the acknowledged leading book on solar engineering features: Complete coverage of basic theory, systems design, and applications Updated material on such cutting-edge topics as photovoltaics and wind power systems New homework problems and exercises

This volume provides a valuable overview of the Commission's current activities in research on solar radiation data and in the development of solar energy applications in buildings. It contains the proceedings of the second contractors' co ordination meeting in the third four year R+D programme (1985-88) in these two fields, which was held in Brussels on 1 and 2 OCtober 1987. The first meeting was held on 13 and 14 November 1986. (') The research contractors' reports presented in this book give a full account of activities at an important stage in the programme where most projects have completed their preparatory stages and productive research is now fully underway. A feature of the reports is the pattern they illustrate of working groups in which practically all of the Member states are represented, co operating in the attainment of common goals within a co ordinated European programme. The meeting was attended by 60 participants and extended over two days. Presentations were made by the contractors on the objectives of their projects, progress made in the research, and future work plans and priorities. Each presentation was followed by a short d- cussion. The meeting was also important in improving communications between the research groups, exposing opportunities for co operation and collaboration, and monitoring progress. Among key achievements reported in the area 'Solar Radiation Data' is the implementation of a network of measuring stations at eight proto typical sites throughout Europe.