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Resource assessment is one of the most important exercises towards project evaluation of off- grid, building-integrated or large-scale grid connected renewable energy projects. The intermittency associated with solar resources makes solar power projects more specific as compared with the projects based on conventional energy resources (coal, gas, nuclear etc.); as the magnitude of solar resource availability varies with location, season of the year and time of day. Availability of solar radiation is one of the important parameters that directly affects the performance of solar thermal and photovoltaic systems. The solar radiation over any location depends upon the latitude of the location, season of the year (solar declination angle) and time of day (hour angle).
In order to address the techno-commercial viability of solar power projects the reliable solar resource assessment is essential from the point of view of Owner’s, Lender’s and Independent engineering. This section presents the physics of solar radiation, basics, databases, estimation techniques, and modelling aspects of solar radiation from the point of view of large scale solar PV and CSP projects.
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