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Nationwide Solar Measuring Stations, What They Are and What They’ll Do

A joint national solar measuring network has been formed between the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) and IBERDROLA RENEWABLES. They have deployed the first of several solar resource measuring stations planned to span the U.S.

Currently, the stations are located across Arizona and are part of NREL’s Solar Resource and Meteorological Assessment Project (SOLRMAP.) The venture unites the national laboratory and the energy industry to collect precise, long-term solar resource measurements. Once they gather the information it will be incorporated into technical analyses for the purpose of minimizing the risk of launching commercial solar energy conversion projects, including concentrated solar power plants.

The goal is to optimize the quality of solar resource data used to evaluate the viability of larger scale projects in the southwest U.S., making it a win-win situation for both NREL and industry.

The initial measurement station was installed by NREL and IBERDROLA RENEWABLES using a rotating shadow band radiometer for global, direct, and diffuse solar measurements. The purpose of the radiometers is to record the intensity and consistency (or reliability) of the sunlight at the station locations. It will also collect wind and temperature measurements.

Combining the SOLRMAP data with information at existing regional solar radiation networks will allow them to make recommendations with regard to upgrading models that support a database of 10-km resolution solar resource data across the U.S. Once the data is collected, NREL researchers and analysts will use the information to improve solar modeling and solar resource forecasting. The data must correctly represent the spatial, temporal, and spectral variability of the solar radiation resource at different locations.

SOLRMAP provides NREL a broader database by which to improve solar resource models. Their industry partners provide funding for instruments, maintenance, and station operations.

NREL provides expertise for station design, instrument selection, calibrations, quality procedures, data analysis, data acquisition, and data distribution. They are the U.S. Department of Energy’s primary national laboratory for renewable energy and energy efficiency research development and are operated by The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC. Currently they are working with several other companies to install SOLRMAP stations and hopes to open the project to more participants planning concentrating solar power plants.

IBERDROLA RENEWABLES brings to the table their expertise as the nation’s leading wind power project developers which has undoubtedly prepared them to responsibly develop renewable technologies of various types, including solar. They are the world’s leading provider of wind power, with 8,500 MW of wind power in operation globally, over 600 MW of clean gas fired generations, and over 50 BCF of gas storage in the U.S. and Canada.

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