A method for characterization and inter-comparison of sites with regard tosolar energy utilization by statistical analysis of their solar radiation data as performed for three sites in the Israel Negev region

A method for the characterization and inter-comparison of sites with regard to their suitability for utilization of solar energy based upon the statis tical analysis of their solar radiation intensities is presented. In this m ethod each monthly data set of the daily global, horizontal beam and diffus e radiation intensities was analyzed and the following parameters were dete rmined: monthly average daily radiation intensity, coefficient of variation , skewness and kurtosis. The values of the skewness and kurtosis have been applied, using generally accepted rules, to describe the distribution curve s for each of the radiation intensity data sets. In addition, the same type of statistical analysis was applied to the monthly average daily ratios of the horizontal beam to global radiation, diffuse to global and the clearne ss index for the three sites. In this investigation, this statistical analy sis method has been applied to the global and beam radiation measured at th ree sites located in the southern, Negev region of Israel, viz., Beer Sheva , Sde Boker and Eilat. The southern region of Israel is characterized by re latively high average daily irradiation intensities for both global and nor mal incidence radiation. They have been characterized with regard to the di stribution of their intensity levels and a site inter-comparison has also b een performed. An inter-comparison of the results of three analyses for the three sites has been performed on a monthly basis. The results of this ana lysis are used both to characterize and compare the composition of the sola r radiation at the three sites under investigation. The results of this stu dy will be presented in detail. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights r eserved.