Abstract:

Meteorological measurements for Solar Energy Systems

Stefan Wilbert¹, Natalie Hanrieder², Fabian Wolfertstetter², Bijan Nouri², Pascal Kuhn², David Schüler², Florian Sutter²

1. Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt (DLR), Institute of Solar Research, Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA), Ctra. de Senés s/n km 4, Apartado 39, 04200 Tabernas, Spain. Tel.: +34 950 277619. Fax: +34 950 260315, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
2. DLR, Institute of Solar Research, PSA, Ctra. de Senés s/n km 4, Apartado 39, 04200 Tabernas, Spain

Meteorological information is essential for the design, the operation and the qualification of solar power plants and their components. In the presentation an overview of the required meteorological measurands and measurement methods is presented. 

A key criterion for the choice of the site and the layout of a solar power plant is obviously the available solar irradiation. The accuracy of the irradiance measurements is crucial to determine the total efficiency of the collectors of an existing solar power plant. To reduce measurement errors accurate sensor calibration has to be performed. Depending on the plant technology the spectral distribution of the solar irradiance is of importance. In addition, other effects which influence the efficiency of solar power plants have to be quantified, such as:

• the soiling of solar collectors
• the attenuation of the solar radiation on its way from the mirrors to the receiver in concentrating plants
• dynamic wind loads on collector structures and receivers
• circumsolar irradiance (which is largely included in the DNI, but only partially intercepted by the receivers of focusing collectors)
• environmental effects driving the degradation of plant components

Dedicated measurement systems for these effects will be presented. Another topic will be the short-term forecast of the solar irradiance for the next fifteen minutes. Such forecasts can be derived from ground based all sky images and help to optimize the operation of the power plant and the power grid.

About the speaker:
Dr. rer. nat. Stefan Wilbert works as scientist in the Institute of Solar Research at the German Aerospace Center (DLR) in the permanent delegation at the Plataforma Solar de Almería, Spain. He is leader of the research group “Solar Energy Meteorology” within the department “Qualification” and subtask leader in the IEA Solar Heating and Cooling Task 46 “Solar Resource assessment and Forecasting”. He has more than 10 years of experience in the field of meteorological measurements for solar energy applications, radiative transfer modeling, nowcasting and CSP plant simulation. He studied physics at the University of Bonn and obtained his PhD from the University of Aachen with a thesis related to the determination of circumsolar radiation and its effect on CSP plants.

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