Merging remote sensing data with in-situ measurements of global solar radiation: the right path to estimate the solar resource in Galicia

Abstract

Among renewable sources, solar energy stands out for its availability and because it can be consumed in the same place where it is produced, reducing its environmental impact. In order to employ it properly, the energy proceeding from the sun must be characterized 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 together with in situ measurements distributed all across the region. Results show the best accuracy ever recorded.