Introducing the Solar Radiation Atlas of Galicia, the ultimate resource to assess and exploit solar radiation in Galicia (NW Spain)

Abstract

The need to exploit the solar resource properly leads to the creation of easy-to use tools, such as maps, that must estimate the incoming solar radiation with the highest accuracy and reliability. State of the art technologies – including meteorological satellites, advanced software and high precision pyranometers – allows estimating the solar resource with high precision and accuracy, taking into account not only the climatic features of a region, but also its topography. This work collects, for the first time, a highly detailed analysis of the solar radiation in Galicia (NW Spain), using 23 years long series of satellite data put side by side with in situ measurements distributed all across the region. Insolation maps and other derived products (cloud cover, clearness index and sunshine hours) are going to be distributed for free to anyone interested in.