NREL: Renewable Resource Data Center

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

SMARTS

The Simple Model of the Atmospheric Radiative Transfer of Sunshine, or SMARTS, predicts clear-sky spectral irradiances. Earth's atmosphere is a continuously changing filter that modifies the sunlight that travels through it. SMARTS computes how changes in the atmosphere affect the distribution of solar power or photon energy for each wavelength of light.

SMARTS is a versatile model that is used by researchers in a number of fields. For example, solar energy researchers use SMARTS to test the performance of spectroradiometers, develop reference spectra, establish uniform testing conditions for materials research, optimize daylighting techniques, and verify broadband radiation models. Researchers also use SMARTS in the fields of architecture, atmospheric science, photobiology, and health physics.

SMARTS is a complex model that requires significant experience and knowledge of basic physics and meteorology, climatology, or atmospheric sciences. It is therefore used primarily by researchers and engineers.

Learn more about the SMARTS model or register to download it.

SMARTS 2.9.5 User alert

As of Friday 20 Feb 2009, a problem with the file handling within the SMARTS295.EXE executable code was found. If the user ran SMARTS295.EXE in the Command Window (DOS prompt) and input a PATH to the input file, the program could not find and open the file and stopped. An error in the program flow renamed the user specified path to the default path (SMARTS 2.9.5 folder) before the open file command. This error has been corrected, and a user input path, as long as it is complete (e.g. "C:\Smarts295_pc\Inputs\Testsite" ) will result in the correct opening of an input file located in the specified path. The output files are still routed to the directory or folder where SMARTS295.EXE is located.

SMARTS was developed by Dr. Christian Gueymard. NREL's Electricity, Resources, and Building Systems Integration Center provided subcontract support for modifications and application assistance.