Modeling Solar Irradiance and Solar PV Power Output to Create a Resource Assessment Using Linear Multiple Multivariate Regression

AbstractThe increased use of solar photovoltaic (PV) cells as energy sources on electric gridshas created the need for more accessible solar irradianceand power production estimates for use in power modeling software. In the present paper, a novel technique for creating solar irradianceestimates is introduced. A solar PV resource dataset created by combining numerical weather predictionassimilation model variables, satellite data, and high-resolution ground-based measurements is also presented. The dataset contains ≈152 000 geographic locations each with ≈26 000 hourly time steps. The solar irradianceoutputs are global horizontal irradiance(GHI), direct normal irradiance(DNI), and diffuse horizontal irradiance(DIF). The technique is developed over the United States by training a linear multiple multivariate regression scheme at 10 locations. The technique is then applied to independent locations over the whole geographic domain. The irradianceestimates are input into a solar PV power modeling alg...