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Large solar energy projects (usually to supply electricity to utilities) cost millions and their economic profitability must be carefully established, along with risk factors due to the variability of the solar resource
and other factors. The design process and financial projections of such projects must therefore rely on high-quality solar resource data. These are known as "bankable data".
There is now a variety of free or commercial sources providing solar radiation data. Comparative studies show that differences of up to 20-50% may exist between different sources of data for any potential site, particularly for direct normal irradiance (DNI),
which is the unique resource for concentrating power plants. System designers and promoters therefore have the delicate responsibility of choosing the most appropriate source of data for their project.
Based on our considerable expertise in solar radiation measurement and modeling, we can offer independent advice and confidentiality on which data source would be most appropriate for any specific project, anywhere in the world.
We can therefore provide "bankable data" within objectively evaluated confidence limits, including long-term variability and risk factors.
In the case when locally measured radiation data have already been obtained for a limited time (e.g., one year),
our expertise in experimental data analysis can best serve clients who wish to evaluate their resource over extended periods into the future,
using various extrapolation methods.
Besides
our professional consulting services related to solar resource
assessment, atmospheric data analysis, and reference spectra
production, Solar Consulting Services can set up custom workshops
(for scientists, engineers, metrologists, or architects) on
specific subjects, e.g., the tailored use of SMARTS in relation
with the testing of products or the degradation of materials, or optimal measurement and analysis of solar radiation data.
Our
clients include:
- National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL)
- American
Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE)
- Atlas
Corporation
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GARD Analytics
-
National Fenestration Rating Council
-
Numerical Logics
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PROMES-CNRS
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