Climatological investigation for solar-power stations in the Swiss Alps

An extended measuring campaign has been performed to obtain all the relevant Aclimatological data at a representative power plant located in the Swiss Alps. Aas a basis for studying the technical and economic feasibility of solar power Astations in Switzerland. The data include the irradiations: direct normal, Aglobal normal, global horizontal, diffuse horizontal and global inclined at 30. A45 and 60 to the South. From the results, it is concluded that suntracking photovoltaic panels would receive 1.7 times more energy per square metre per Ayear than solar thermal systems converting the direct normal irradiation only. AUnexpectedly high global irradiation values in southwards-directed, 60° Ainclined planes confirmed the enhancing effect of snow reflection, leading to a Avaluable extra output of panels in winter. Snow and cloud-side reflection Aoccasionally caused peak values of the global normal irradiation, far exceeding Athe solar constant of 1367 W/m^2 (up to 2000 W/m^2). The irradiation data are Asupplemented by wind, rainfall, ambient temperature and humidity measurements. ASome solar spectra were also acquired at the end of the project. They Acontribute to the correct selection of the panel type. Highly resolved Ameasurements of the direct normal irradiation were used to perform simulations Aof the volumetric receiver of a solar thermal power station. 1999 Elsevier AScience Ltd. All rights reserved.