Solar energy travels from the sun to the earth in the form of electromagnetic radiation.  In this course properties of electromagnetic radiation will be discussed and basic calculations for electromagnetic radiation will be described. Several solar position parameters will be discussed along with means of calculating values for them.  The major methods by which solar radiation is converted into other useable forms of energy will be discussed briefly.  Extraterrestrial solar radiation (that striking the earth’s outer atmosphere) will be discussed and means of estimating its value at a given location and time will be presented.  Finally information will be presented on the use of three websites to obtain values for yearly average solar insulation, monthly average insulation, or daily insulation at a specified location in the United States or anywhere around the world.  Numerous examples are included to illustrate the calculations and data retrieval methods presented. After completing this course, you will have basic knowledge about solar electromagnetic radiation, will be familiar with fundamental solar parameters, will be able to obtain or calculate values for those parameters and use them in calculations, and will be able to obtain values for average monthly rate of solar radiation, average annual rate of solar radiation and average hourly rate of solar radiation striking the surface of a typical solar collector in the United States or any location around the world.  You will also be prepared to take additional more specialized solar energy courses. This course is intended for mechanical, electrical chemical and energy engineers, and architects.  It will also be of interest to any engineers wanting to learn more about the renewable energy field.

Learning Objectives:

• Know the different types of electromagnetic radiation and which of them are included in solar radiation
• Be able to calculate wavelength if given frequency and frequency if given wavelength for specified electromagnetic radiation
• Know the meaning of absorbance, reflectance and transmittance as applied to a surface receiving electromagnetic radiation and be able to make calculations with those parameters
• Be able to obtain or calculate values for solar declination, solar hour angle, solar altitude angle, sunrise angle, and sunset angle and use them in calculations
• Know the major methods by which solar radiation is converted into other useable forms of energy.
• Be able to obtain an estimated value for monthly averaged extraterrestrial radiation on a horizontal surface for a specified month and latitude between 20 and 65 degrees.
• Be able to obtain values for the average monthly rate of solar radiation striking the surface of a horizontal, vertical or tilted flat plate solar collector, at a specified location in the United Stated or anywhere in the world for a given month, using the NASA POWER website.
• Be able to obtain values for Solar Irradiance and projected Photovoltaic panel performance anywhere in the world, using the Global Solar Atlas website
• Be able to obtain hourly values for Direct Normal Irradiance and Global Horizontal Irradiance for a specified year at a specified location anywhere in the world, using the NREL NSRDB Data Viewer website.