Abstract :
This paper presents a validation of the short and medium term global irradiance forecasts that are produced as part of the US Solar-
Anywhere (2010) data set. The short term forecasts that extend up to 6-h ahead are based upon cloud motion derived from consecutive
geostationary satellite images. The medium term forecasts extend up to 6-days-ahead and are modeled from gridded cloud cover forecasts
from the US National Digital Forecast Database.
The forecast algorithms are validated against ground measurements for seven climatically distinct locations in the United States for
1 year. An initial analysis of regional performance using satellite-derived irradiances as a benchmark reference is also presented.
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