Solar Position Algorithm (SPA)

	Solar Position Algorithm (SPA)

NREL's SPA

This algorithm calculates the solar zenith and azimuth angles in the period from the year -2000 to 6000, with uncertainties of +/- 0.0003 degrees based on the date, time, and location on Earth. (Reference: Reda, I.; Andreas, A., Solar Position Algorithm for Solar Radiation Applications, Solar Energy. Vol. 76(5), 2004; pp. 577-589). The software has not been tested on a variety of platforms and is not guaranteed to work on yours. It is provided here as a convenience.

How to use this algorithm and a description of the variables is included in the spa.h header file. Further information on this algorithm is available in the following NREL technical report:

Reda, I.; Andreas, A. (2003). Solar Position Algorithm for Solar Radiation Applications. 55 pp.; NREL Report No. TP-560-34302, Revised January 2008. (1.9 MB PDF Document)

SPA.C

Distributed by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Electric Systems Center
Measurement & Instrumentation Team
June 2003

NOTICE

This computer software is code in development prepared by Midwest Research Institute, (hereinafter the "Contractor"), under Contract DE-AC-99G010337 (Contract) with the Department of Energy (DOE). The United States Government has been granted for itself and others acting on its behalf a paid-up, non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license in the Software to reproduce, prepare derivative works, and perform publicly and display publicly. Beginning five (5) years after the date permission to assert copyright is obtained from the DOE, and subject to any subsequent five (5) year renewals, the United States Government is granted for itself and others acting on its behalf a paid-up, non-exclusive, irrevocable, worldwide license in the Software to reproduce, prepare derivative works, distribute copies to the public, perform publicly and display publicly, and to permit others to do so. If the Contractor ceases to make this computer software available, it may be obtained from DOE's Office of Scientific and Technical Information's Energy Science and Technology Software Center (ESTSC) at P.O. Box 1020, Oak Ridge, TN 37831-1020. THlS SOFTWARE IS PROVIDED BY THE CONTRACTOR "AS IS" AND ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE IMPLIED WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY AND FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE ARE DISCLAIMED. IN NO EVENT SHALL THE CONTRACTOR OR THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BE LIABLE FOR ANY SPECIAL, INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES OR ANY DAMAGES WHATSOEVER, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO CLAIMS ASSOCIATED WITH THE LOSS OF DATA OR PROFITS, WHICH MAY RESULT FROM AN ACTION IN CONTRACT, NEGLIGENCE OR OTHER TORTIOUS CLAIM THAT ARISES OUT OF OR IN CONNECTION WITH THE ACCESS, USE OR PERFORMANCE OF THIS SOFTWARE.

As a condition of using the Software in an application, the developer of the application agrees to reference the use of the Software and make this Notice readily accessible to any end-user in a Help|About screen or equivalent manner.

The Software is not being distributed for commercial purposes. Please contact Richard Bolin in the NREL Technology Transfer Office at 303-275-3028 for information concerning a commercial license to use the Software.

This section contains three C codes:

spa.c -- the actual code that computes the sun's position in the sky, revised January 21, 2008.
spa.h -- the header file that must be included in the code that calls "spa.c"
spa_tester.c -- a test code that exercises "spa.c"

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