Results of applicability analysis of satellite observations and reanalysis data for autonomous photovoltaic unit simulation

Abstract

The accuracy analysis of energy performance prediction of autonomous photovoltaic units using various climate databases (NASA POWER, SARAH-E, CLARA-A, ERA5, Meteonorm, etc.) for some geographic points in Russia was performed by comparing with calculations using data of World Radiation Data Center. It is shown that the considered databases provide a spread of predictions of the required power of solar battery at the level of 10-20% only when solar fraction is less than 70%. For larger solar fraction, the prediction error of the required power of solar battery can reach hundreds of percent.