Comparison of some existing models for estimating global solar radiation for Antalya (Turkey)

Solar radiation data for Antalya (36 degrees 53' N, 30 degrees 42' E) in Turkey were used to test the applicability of twenty six models available for computing the monthly average daily global radiation on a horizontal surface. The models were compared on the basis of statistical error tests using the mean percentage error (MPE), root mean square error (RMSE) and the mean bias error (MBE). According to our results, the Samuel model below (Samuel T.D.M.A. Estimation of global radiation for Srilanka. Solar Energy 1991;47(5):333) showed the best estimation of global solar radiation on a horizontal surface for Antalya by means of the MPE (1.5%), RMSE (0.27 MJ/m(2):) and MBE (-0.02 MJ/m(2)) statistical tests: H/H-0 = -2.4275 +11.946(S/S-0) -16.745(S/S-0)(2) +7.9575(S/S-0)(3) (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.