CURRENT STATUS OF SOLAR MEASUREMENT PROGRAMS IN THE U.S.

摘要

A major activity of The National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Solar Resource Assessment task in FY 2000 is the development of an electronic-based North American Solar Atlas. The primary source of information in the atlas will consist of satellite-derived and modeled estimates of solar resources and related meta-data. The atlas will also contain links to sources of high-quality ground station solar measurement data, which are essential to a national assessment of solar resources. The data provide accurate times series information, and comprise the best source of validation for modeled estimates. However, despite the importance of these data to the solar industry, an enduring, long-term national solar network remains elusive. Efforts are underway, nevertheless, to coordinate major regional and national network activities. This paper reviews and summarizes the status of major solar measurement activities in the U.S., and describes coordination activities that lead toward a "virtual" national network.