Recent Progress in Reducing the Uncertainty in and Improving Pyranometer Calibrations

2001 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daryl R. Myers ◽  
Thomas L. Stoffel ◽  
Ibrahim Reda ◽  
Stephen M. Wilcox ◽  
Afshin M. Andreas
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Photovoltaic Module ◽  
Distributed Energy ◽  
Climate Change Research ◽  
Renewable Energy Systems ◽  
Radiation Fluxes ◽  
Energy Conversion Systems ◽  
Array Performance

Abstract The Measurements and Instrumentation Team within the Distributed Energy Resources Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL, calibrates pyranometers for outdoor testing solar energy conversion systems. The team also supports climate change research programs. These activities led NREL to improve pyranometer calibrations. Low thermal-offset radiometers measuring the sky diffuse component of the reference solar irradiance removes bias errors on the order of 20 Watts per square meter (W/m2) in the calibration reference irradiance. Zenith angle dependent corrections to responsivities of pyranometers removes 15 to 30 W/m2 bias errors from field measurements. Detailed uncertainty analysis of our outdoor calibration process shows a 20% reduction in the uncertainty in the responsivity of pyranometers. These improvements affect photovoltaic module and array performance characterization, assessment of solar resources for design, sizing, and deployment of solar renewable energy systems, and ground-based validation of satellite-derived solar radiation fluxes.

Recent Progress in Reducing the Uncertainty in and Improving Pyranometer Calibrations

2001 ◽  
Vol 124 (1) ◽  
pp. 44-50 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daryl R. Myers ◽  
Thomas L. Stoffel ◽  
Ibrahim Reda ◽  
Stephen M. Wilcox ◽  
Afshin M. Andreas
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Field Measurements ◽  
Photovoltaic Module ◽  
Distributed Energy ◽  
Climate Change Research ◽  
Renewable Energy Systems ◽  
Radiation Fluxes ◽  
Energy Conversion Systems ◽  
Array Performance

The Measurements and Instrumentation Team within the Distributed Energy Resources Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, NREL, calibrates pyranometers for outdoor testing solar energy conversion systems. The team also supports climate change research programs. These activities led NREL to improve pyranometer calibrations. Low thermal-offset radiometers measuring the sky diffuse component of the reference solar irradiance removes bias errors on the order of 20 Watts per square meter (W/m2) in the calibration reference irradiance. Zenith angle dependent corrections to responsivities of pyranometers removes 15 to 30 W/m2 bias errors from field measurements. Detailed uncertainty analysis of our outdoor calibration process shows a 20% reduction in the uncertainty in the responsivity of pyranometers. These improvements affect photovoltaic module and array performance characterization, assessment of solar resources for design, sizing, and deployment of solar renewable energy systems, and ground-based validation of satellite-derived solar radiation fluxes.

The role of ‘living laboratories’ in unlocking the potential of renewable energy and smart distributed energy systems to address the UN SDGs

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chris Fogwill ◽  
Zoe Robinson ◽  
David Healey ◽  
Sharon George ◽  
Phillip Catney ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Life Cycle Assessment ◽  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Life Cycle ◽  
Energy Landscape ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Distributed Energy ◽  
Renewable Energy Systems ◽  
Energy Networks ◽  
Climate Action

<p>The UN Sustainable Development Goals provide a framework towards a more sustainable future.  Although each goal can be targeted separately, the greatest benefit is to be had in ensuring that projects exploit synergies between different goals, are developed with an interdisciplinary perspective, and integrate different stakeholders across academia, business, government, NGOs, and communities.</p><p>In combination, Renewable Energy Systems (RES) and distributed ‘smart’ energy networks (SEN) provide opportunities to drive down CO<sub>2</sub> emissions, clearly addressing SDG13, ‘climate action’.  However, significant potential exists to positively contribute to a wider suite of goals as well as the potential to negatively impact other aspects. Addressing these tensions and opportunities requires development of a detailed understanding of the full societal, economic and environmental impacts of such developments.</p><p>Such integrated renewable energy systems and smart energy networks are in the early stages of development.  Taking a ‘living laboratory approach’ enables the development and live-testing of new energy systems, including the opportunity to consider full life cycle assessment impacts and benefits, as well as investigate and co-develop interactions with end-users.  Here we outline the potential of one of Europe’s largest ‘at scale’ multi-vector smart energy systems, developed as a ‘living laboratory’ at Keele University in the UK, to demonstrate an integrated approach to addressing the UN’s SDGs through integrated RES-SEN systems. The scale and scope of the project provides the opportunity for the detailed analysis required to provide a model of a scalable, integrated RES-SEN approach as part of an evolving energy landscape, where multi-vector renewables, and distributed energy and storage provide new models for decarbonisation, whilst also contributing more widely to the UN’s SDGs.</p><p>This project represents an ambitious and innovative demonstrator programme that brings together multiple stakeholders to explore the potential for addressing the core SDGs of ‘climate action’, ‘affordable and clean energy’, ‘sustainable cities and communities’, ‘decent work and economic growth’, and ‘industry, innovation and infrastructure’, while exploring the additional potential impacts and benefits to ‘quality education’, ‘life on land’ and ‘partnerships for the goal’. The programme of work focusses on technical developments, societal adoption and full economic life-cycle assessment, which combined are developing a blue print for the integration of RES-SEN technologies across the evolving energy landscape by working in partnership with key industrial and commercial partners to contribute to a wide array of the UN’s SDGs.  </p><p> </p>

Advanced Heat/Mass Exchanger Technology for Geothermal and Solar Renewable Energy Systems

2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Miles Greiner ◽  
Amy Childress ◽  
Sage Hiibel ◽  
Kwang Kim ◽  
Chanwoo Park ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Renewable Energy ◽  
Energy Systems ◽  
Renewable Energy Systems ◽  
Mass Exchanger
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