Importance of Input Data and Uncertainty Associated with Tuning Satellite to Ground Solar Irradiation

About the Research Paper

Importance of Input Data and Uncertainty Associated with Tuning Satellite to Ground Solar Irradiation

Use of ground-based solar resource measurements can reduce long-term uncertainty when properly correlated with satellite-based data. Development timelines and other business deliverables often dictate how many months ground-based measurement stations can be deployed without full understanding of how the length of the measurement period can impact long-term solar resource uncertainty reductions.

This paper analyzes the reduction in the solar resource uncertainty as a function of the project location, as well as the length of ground-based measurements. Results from this paper can help PV project developers make strategic decisions about the design of ground-based measurement campaigns, and weigh the cost-benefit of including such a campaign in their process.