Numerical methods to calculate solar radiation, validation through a new Graphic User Interface design

• Rare measuring networks in the developing world due to technical and fiscal reasons.
• Insufficient attention is paid regarding to tools for solar energy systems design.
• The new interface offers solutions to the insisting need for innovative decisions.
• Comprehensive comparative studies are conducted using experimental measurements.
• Results are with attractive margins of error in accordance with experimental data.

The present paper is basically devoted to the estimation of solar radiation in order to provide data on the situation of solar applications in a given site; it also aims at contributing to the performance improvement of solar energy systems. I aim to show and evaluate the performance of the most appropriate models used to recover solar components at ground level, via confronting meteorological techniques to selected semi empirical methods. I have adopted an innovative approach to testing the theory through numerical simulation by providing a friendly user ergonomic Graphic User Interface ‘GUI’, carefully designed and that principally makes use of a large range of models for the calculation of solar components. In this article I may consider three numerical models namely: Lacis & Hansen, Atwater & Ball and Lui & Jordon, which are used here to elucidate the performance of such methods facing meteorological models such as those of Angstrom, Garg and Coppolino. I debate the advantages of these latest methods, and I argue that they are of big importance because the main variable that is used is sunshine duration. Some of them involve the water content in the atmosphere, a particularly important parameter which strongly absorbs solar radiation in the infrared region. They are also perfectly suited for locations where solar irradiance is not being measured by all hydrometeorological stations, and where only meteorological data are collected. I want to complete this paper by demonstrating the efficiency of the new interface, through comprehensive comparative studies that are made possible. Results of the study are evaluated and assessed in the lights of experimental measurements. These are supplied by the Unit for Applied Research in Renewable Energy-UARRE-(Ghardaïa, Algeria, 3.80°E, 32.4°N). This is a selected station of the National Office of Meteorology which is quite interesting as it is situated a hundred kilometers far from the famous hybrid (solar, gas) station of Hassi R’Mel, moreover it provides reliable data. Finally, I find it necessary to mention that obtained results are with attractive margins of error and in accordance with experimental measurements.