Comparing satellite remote sensing and ground network measurements for the production of site/time specific irradiance data

In this article, we compare the accuracy of satellite-derived time/site specific hourly irradiances, with that of irradiances obtained via extrapolation and/or interpolation of nearby ground-measuring stations. A comprehensive study undertaken by the International Energy Agency [Zelenka et al. Final Report of International Energy Agency Solar Heating and Cooling Program (1992)] had addressed this question, but had limited its scope to daily total irradiances. The present study focuses on hourly data.