2. Capturing a solar resource
Solar resource is random and variable
Geography of a location will affect solar plant’s capacity
There are an increasing number of measurement stations of global
radiation and its components: direct and diffuse
New measurement tools include geo-stationary satellite
More reliable than the interpolation of data from land-based
meteorological stations
However, new methods of measurement do not eliminate the need
for local measurement of solar resource at the location where a solar
plant is being considered.
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Solar resource evaluation
3. Source: NASA
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Solar resource evaluation
Solar radiation maps
Tools that can giving a large scale
overview of the solar resource available
at a location, provide a prima facie
understanding of the viability of a site.
A rigorous solar evaluation in situ
provides more accurate measurement
and greater certainty.
Additionally, it is good practice to
compare satellite data with the data
gathered locally from meteorological
stations.
4. OPTIMUM
PROFITABILITY
Resource evaluation System losses (PR)
• Shadows
• Disconnections & Breakdowns
• Panel tolerance
• Pollution, dispersion & reflectance
• Temperature
• Inverter
• Cables
• Latitude
• Longitude
• Altitude
• Data from closest
meteorological stations
• Data from satellites
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Plant profitability and design
Hinweis der Redaktion
Welcome to the first module in the first chapter of Leonardo Energy’s training course on the design, economic analysis, installation, operation, and maintenance of Grid-connected and Off-grid Photovoltaic Solar Plants. The course is based on a series of webinars delivered for Leonardo Energy by Javier Relancio & Luis Recuero of the Generalia Group in Spain.
New tools to measure the solar radiation falling on the earth have appeared in recent years. For example, geostationary statellitescan provide a relatively acurate picture of the potential of site for solar energy production. However, while the quality and quantity of the data has improved dramatically, it remains insufficient for a detailed evaluation of any potential solar location.
Solar resource evaluation: Solar Radiation maps
Each day, we can find new maps, which have less uncertain measures
They allow a first approach to the viability study for a solar plant location
They can be considered enough for small solar facilities
But to get a completely certain measure, a rigorous solar radiation evaluation must be done in situ. Then we can additionally compare them with the satellite information and the closer meteorological stations.
A site’s viability for solar energy production needs to take The possibility of shadowing, breakdowns and disconnections need to be taken into account together with the possiblity of factors that will reduce system efficiency such as very high temperatures, pollution or light dispersion, among others.