NREL is a national laboratory of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy 

Efficiency & Renewable Energy, operated by the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC.

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308

Standardization of Solar Mirror 

Reflectance Measurements – 

Round Robin Test 

Preprint 

Stephanie Meyen and Eckhard Lüpfert 

DLR German Aerospace Center 

Aránzazu Fernández-García 

CIEMAT 

Cheryl Kennedy 

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Presented at SolarPACES 2010

Perpignan, France

September 21-24, 2010

Conference Paper

NREL/CP-5500-49189

October 2010
NOTICE

The submitted manuscript has been offered by an employee of the Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC 

(Alliance), a contractor of the US Government under Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308. Accordingly, the US 

Government and Alliance retain a nonexclusive royalty-free license to publish or reproduce the published form of 

this contribution, or allow others to do so, for US Government purposes.

This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States government. 

Neither the United States government nor any agency thereof, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, 

express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of 

any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately 

owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, 

trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, 

or favoring by the United States government or any agency thereof. The views and opinions of authors 

expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States government or any agency thereof.

Available electronically at http://www.osti.gov/bridge

Available for a processing fee to U.S. Department of Energy

and its contractors, in paper, from:

U.S. Department of Energy

Office of Scientific and Technical Information

P.O. Box 62

Oak Ridge, TN 37831-0062

phone: 865.576.8401

fax: 865.576.5728

email: mailto:reports@adonis.osti.gov

Available for sale to the public, in paper, from:

U.S. Department of Commerce

National Technical Information Service

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

phone: 800.553.6847

fax: 703.605.6900

email: orders@ntis.fedworld.gov

online ordering: http://www.ntis.gov/help/ordermethods.aspx

Cover Photos: (left to right) PIX 16416, PIX 17423, PIX 16560, PIX 17613, PIX 17436, PIX 17721

Printed on paper containing at least 50% wastepaper, including 10% post consumer waste.
1 

STANDARDIZATION OF SOLAR MIRROR REFLECTANCE 

MEASUREMENTS – ROUND ROBIN TEST

Stephanie Meyen1, Aránzazu Fernández-García2, Cheryl Kennedy3, Eckhard Lüpfert4

1

Dipl.-Ing., Solar Researcher, DLR German Aerospace Center, Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA), Ctra. Senés Km. 4, 04200 Tabernas, 

Spain, +34 950 611743, Stephanie.Meyen@dlr.de

2

Master-Ing., Solar Researcher, CIEMAT, Plataforma Solar de Almería (PSA), +34 950387950

3

Senior Scientist, National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), +1 303 3846103

4

Dr.-Ing., Solar Researcher, DLR German Aerospace Center, +49 22036014714

Abstract 

Within the SolarPaces Task III standardization activities, DLR, CIEMAT, and NREL have concentrated on 

optimizing the procedure to measure the reflectance of solar mirrors. From this work, the laboratories have 

developed a clear definition of the method and requirements needed of commercial instruments for reliable 

reflectance results. A round robin test was performed between the three laboratories with samples that

represent all of the commercial solar mirrors currently available for concentrating solar power (CSP) 

applications. The results show surprisingly large differences in hemispherical reflectance (σh) of 0.007 and 

specular reflectance (σs) of 0.004 between the laboratories. These differences indicate the importance of 

minimum instrument requirements and standardized procedures. Based on these results, the optimal 

procedure will be formulated and validated with a new round robin test in which a better accuracy is 

expected. Improved instruments and reference standards are needed to reach the necessary accuracy for cost 

and efficiency calculations. 

Keywords: Reflectance measurement procedure, solar mirror characterization, round robin test, 

standardization, spectrophotometer, reflectometer

1. Introduction

Solar reflectors for concentrating solar power (CSP) applications can be characterized by the amount of 

sunlight reflected onto the receiver. This performance is influenced by the sun shape, reflector quality, 

tracking accuracy, and location of the CSP plant. Sun shape is the extent the incident rays from the sun are 

imperfectly collimated. Reflector quality is dependent on the solar-weighted reflectance and specularity of 

the mirror material in addition to the durability, cost, and deviations from the designed shape. Specular 

reflectance is the total reflectance minus the light scattered outside a specified acceptance half angle or, 

alternatively, the amount of light reflected into the acceptance half angle. Specularity is usually related to 

micro-imperfections of the mirror surface such as those caused by micro-roughness, soiling, dust 

accumulation, micro-cracks, haze, etc. Solar-weighted specular reflectance—the specular reflectance within a 

specified incidence and half-cone angle beam weighted across the solar spectrum—is the crucial parameter to

characterize the quality and performance of solar mirrors. Frequently, the reflectance values cited in 

datasheets of commercial solar mirrors cannot be compared because of differences in measurement methods. 

Furthermore, no commercially available instrument can measure solar-weighted specular reflectance—the 

most significant metric. 

CIEMAT-PSA (Almeria, Spain), NREL (Golden, Colorado, USA), and DLR-Quarz (Cologne, Germany) 

reviewed the reflectance measurement procedure presented in [1] to characterize solar mirrors. A round 

robin test that included the relevant solar reflector materials was performed at all three laboratories. The test 

results underline the importance of the instrument requirements and procedure discussed in Section 4. The 

The Alliance for Sustainable Energy, LLC (Alliance), is the manager and operator of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Employees of the Alliance, under 

Contract No. DE-AC36-08GO28308 with the U.S. Dept. of Energy, have authored this work. The United States Government retains and the publisher, by accepting the article for 

publication, acknowledges that the United States Government retains a non-exclusive, paid-up, irrevocable, worldwide license to publish or reproduce the published form of this 

work, or allow others to do so, for United States Government purposes.
2 

proposed instrument requirements and procedures are meant to be a guideline for future instrument 

improvements and standards that is valid not only for glass mirrors but also for alternative mirror materials 

like silvered polymer, enhanced aluminum, and front surface mirrors that can provide challenges to accurate 

measurements. 

2. Procedure and Instruments

2.1. General specifications

The solar-weighted specular reflectance ρs(SW,φ,θ) at an 

incidence angle φ cannot be measured directly at a specific 

acceptance half angle θ (Figure 1) appropriate for solar 

applications. The acceptance half angle θ for the beam offset is 

determined by the collector design, size, and the acceptable total 

optical collector error [2]. The amount of sunlight concentrated 

onto the receiver by only the mirror material can be 

characterized by ρs(SW,φ,θ), without considering other possible 

imperfections like shape, receiver alignment, and tracking 

errors. An acceptance half angle of θ = 7.5 – 12.5 mrad

(primarily 12.5 mrad) is considered appropriate for typical 

parabolic trough designs [3]. 

There is no commercial instrument to quantify ρs(SW,φ,θ), because the current instruments can only measure 

specular reflectance at a specified θ in narrow wavelength bands. Therefore ρs(SW,φ,θ) must be 

approximated. Hemispherical reflectance ρh(λ,φ,h) is measured over a wavelength range representative of the

terrestrial solar spectrum (λ = 250-2500 nm) with a UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer and an integrating 

sphere (typically, the incidence angle φ is 8°) relative to standards. The spectrum is then weighted by an 

appropriate standard terrestrial solar spectrum to compute a solar-weighted hemispherical reflectance, 

ρh(λ=250-2500 nm), as a meaningful single measure of optical performance. ASTM G173 at air mass 1.5 is 

recommended [4]. These techniques and measured data are directly comparable with DIN 5036-1, 3 [5,6]. 

The specular reflectance ρs(λ,φ,θ) is measured with a specular reflectometer at θ = 3.5, 7.5, and 12.5 mrad

with an incidence angle φ=15° for λ ≈ 660 nm. For highly specular glass or front surface reflectors, specular 

reflectance can be described by the ratio of specular reflectance ρs(λ,φ,θ) to the hemispherical reflectance 

ρh(λ,φ,h) at the same wavelength is assumed to be constant and equals the ratio of the solar weighted values.

The solar-weighted specular reflectance is then approximated by [7]: 

2.2. Requirements for reaching optimal results

Only measurements taken as a function of wavelength within a solar wavelength range of 250- 2500 nm or at 

representative discrete wavelength intervals in this range are suitable for the calculation of ρs(SW,φ,θ). To 

realistically predict the reflected sunlight onto the absorber, instruments ideally allow the selection of

specular reflectance measurements as a function of defined acceptance angles θ. Solar mirrors cover a wide 

range of materials and properties; namely, 1st and 2nd surface, glass mirrors of thickness ranging from 0.95 

mm to 5 mm, silver and aluminum reflectance layers, and new reflector materials with surfaces that have

complex specularity characteristics. Therefore, the instrument performance and procedure must be applicable 

for all such material characteristics. The greatest source of error lies in the accurate measurement of the 

specular reflected beam when portable instruments are used outdoors in a solar collector field, where the 

mirrors have a curvature due to their focal length and soiling particles can disrupt the smooth interface of the 

instrument to the mirror. The ability to visually check and adjust the beam alignment and ease of handling 

Figure 1. Definition of angles. 

( ) ( )

( ) ( ) πφρ πφλρ

θφλρ θφρ ,, ,,660,,660 SW ,, h SW

h

s

s ⋅ =

= =
3 

and also reduce the variability caused by different operators and ambient conditions (primarily temperature)

is essential. 

Reflectance measurements are usually taken in relation to calibrated reference standards; using the correct 

reference standard that is clean is essential. The best results can be achieved when the reference standard has 

similar reflective properties to the sample; that is, the type of mirror (1st surface or 2nd surface), the reflective 

material (silver or aluminum), the thickness, and its specularity. The reference standards and instruments

must be calibrated regularly. 

2.3. State of the art

Reflectance is measured in the laboratory with a UV-Vis-NIR spectrophotometer over the solar wavelength 

range and then weighted with the standard solar spectrum. Spectrophotometers can be equipped with an 

integrating sphere for hemispherical reflectance measurements and are usually very reliable for any kind of 

material when the correct reference standard is used [8]. Integrating spheres are also used in various portable 

reflectometers but are restricted to a small selection of discrete wavelength intervals. Instruments with

integrating spheres usually offer openings in the sphere where the specular reflected beam can be excluded 

and an indirect acquisition of the specular reflectance is possible. The problem is that the acceptance angle of 

these “specular” parts is fixed and quite large so that useful ρs is not measured. Another option is the use of 

specular accessories [9] for spectrophotometers. 

A variety of other portable reflectometers and glossmeters exist [7], which generally only measure specified

wavelengths or a small wavelength range. In addition, gloss is not an optical property generally relatable to ρs

so glossmeters should not be considered. All such devices suffer from major disadvantages:

• The acceptance angle cannot be selected; it is sometimes unknown or greater than θ = 7.5-12.5 mrad.

• The alignment cannot be checked and adjusted, which is necessary to measure mirrors with mirror 

surface micro-roughness or curvature. 

• The restricted wavelength range does not allow a precise solar weighting. 

• The design works reliably only for highly specular glass or front surface reflectors. 

• Repeatability of measured values varied by several percentage points, giving unacceptable results [10]. 

The instrument selected for specular reflectance measurements can measure at three acceptance angles. The 

angle θ can be selected equal to 12.5 mrad and the beam alignment can be visually adjusted to allow 

representative and reproducible measurements on solar reflectors. The instrument measures at a wavelength 

interval of 635-685 nm with a peak at 660 nm and a repeatability of less than 0.005. The solar weighting is 

performed with the approximation explained above.

3. Round Robin Tests 

3.1. Proceedings of round robin test

Using the same instruments with the same properties and the same measurement procedure should lead to 

similar results when a mirror is measured at different laboratories by different operators. On the basis of [1] 

and further discussions of how to measure ρh(SW,φ,π) and ρs(SW,φ,θ), a round robin test was performed on a 

good representation of commercially available solar mirrors. Samples were measured at the three research

laboratories. Each laboratory received a set of samples for the first round of measurements; the sets were then 

sent to the next laboratory, where they were measured and so on, resulting in three rounds. 

For the measurement of ρh(SW,8°,π), Perkin Elmer Lambda series (φ = 8°) spectrophotometers were used. 

CIEMAT used a new Lambda 1050 with a 150-mm integrating sphere, DLR used a Lambda 950 with a 150-

mm sphere, and NREL used the older Lambda 9 and Lambda 900 equipped with 60-mm spheres. All 

laboratories used Devices & Services 15R reflectometers (λ = 660nm, φ = 15°) to measure ρs(660nm,15°,θ) 

with θ = 12.5 and 7.5 mrad. The 15R at CIEMAT is the new USB model purchased last year. DLR also 

purchased a new USB-15R reflectometer and made additional measurements with this (“DLR add” in section 
4 

4.3). The round robin test at NREL and DLR was performed with older models of the 15R. Last year, 

NREL’s model was upgraded to USB and both were recalibrated by Devices & Services. 

CIEMAT and DLR used 1st surface aluminumaluminum reference standards for the 1st surface samples 

(including the polymer film) and for the 2nd surface thin glass mirrors. They used 4-mm silvered-glass 

reference standards for 3-mm and 4-mm 2nd surface glass mirror samples. NREL used 2nd surface 1-mm 

silvered-glass reference standards for all 2nd surface glass samples and polymer film. Their 1st surface 

aluminum standards were used for 1st surface aluminum samples. During the test, NREL’s instruments were 

recalibrated after the second round. CIEMAT samples were measured at NREL before and after the 

recalibration. NREL reference standards are older and were not recalibrated in time before the test started but 

are now being recalibrated. Samples will be remeasured with the recalibrated standards during the next round 

robin. 

3.2 Samples

Nine different types of solar mirrors were provided by six different manufacturers for the test. Of each mirror

type, five identical samples were provided; these were organized into three working sets of samples, each

containing one mirror of each type plus two sets of control samples. Overall, there were 27 samples in the 

test, each measured three (hemispherical) to five (specular) times at each laboratory and sent in three rounds. 

Each laboratory started the measurements with a fresh set of samples identified as: CIEMAT1,...,CIEMAT9; 

NREL1,...,NREL9; and DLR1,...,DLR9. Mirror samples were: 

• Type 1: 2nd surface silvered polymer film laminated to a 1-mm thick aluminum substrate from 

manufacturer A,

• Type 2: 0.95-mm thick 2nd surface silvered low-iron glass mirror laminated to a 1-mm thick glass substrate 

from manufacturer B,

• Type 3: 3-mm thick 2nd surface silvered low-iron glass mirror from manufacturer B,

• Type 4: 1.6-mm thick 2nd surface silvered low-iron glass mirror from manufacturer B,

• Type 5: 1st surface enhanced aluminum mirror applied to a 3-mm thick glass substrate from manufacturer 

C,

• Type 6: 0.95-mm thick 2nd surface silvered low-iron glass mirror from manufacturer D,

• Type 7: 1st surface aluminum mirror laminated to a metal-polymer-metal sandwich from manufacturer E,

• Type 8: 0.95-mm thick 2nd surface silvered low-iron glass mirror from manufacturer F, and

• Type 9: 4-mm thick 2nd surface silvered low-iron glass mirror from manufacturer F.

All samples had clean, smooth surfaces without scratches or soiling at the beginning of the test. Type 1 

mirrors were supplied with thick edge protection. The overlapping edge protection on the corners prevented 

correct sample placement in the instruments. These corners were removed at the beginning of the test, which 

slightly warped the areas adjacent to the corners, making specular reflectance measurements in these areas 

significantly more difficult. 

4. Measurement Results and Discussion

4.1. Hemispherical reflectance

The results of ρh(SW,8°,π) are presented in Figures 2-4 together with the standard deviation (StDev) between 

the laboratories. To reduce the number of graphs, the results of polymer film are plotted together with 

aluminum mirrors in Figure 2, although the material types are not comparable. The same is the case in

Figures 5-7. 
5 

Figure 2. ρh(SW,8°, π) ASTM G173 for silver polymer film and 1st surface aluminum mirror.

Figure 3. ρh(SW,8°, π) ASTM G173 for 2nd surface thin-glass mirrors.

Figure 3. ρh(SW,8°, π) ASTM G173 for 2nd surface glass mirrors.
6 

Surprisingly, the repeatability of the hemispherical measurements was not high between the laboratories, 

although the measurements within any one laboratory were very consistent. The deviation did not exceed

0.0020 for all material types when the CIEMAT and DLR measurements were compared, but the NREL 

results were higher. This can be explained by the NREL spectrophotometers’ use of smaller integrating 

spheres—60 mm vs. 150 mm—and the age of the NREL reference mirrors. DLR and CIEMAT bought 

identical reference mirrors within the last two years from European laboratories, whereas NREL used 

significantly older reference standards that had not been recalibrated for a number of years because 

calibration services had been unavailable. This led to higher reflectance values; the same would be the case if 

dirty reference standards were used. In addition, the NREL spectrophotometers were overdue for their annual 

calibration for the first and second rounds and were recalibrated between the second and third rounds. The 

recalibration before the third round of CIEMAT samples reduced the deviation between laboratories, most 

significantly in the 1st surface aluminum and silvered polymer film. 

The measurements of 2nd surface glass mirrors would be expected to have the best repeatability because of 

their homogeneity. The results reveal the opposite, indicating the importance of the correct reference 

standard. The 3-mm and 4-mm glass mirrors had the greatest deviation (StDev = 0.007) because NREL used 

1-mm reference standards and DLR and CIEMAT used 4-mm standards. The thin-glass deviation is also high 

(StDev = 0.007) because only NREL had the 1-mm reference standards with similar properties to the 

samples, while DLR and CIEMAT used 1st surface aluminum standards. The aluminum samples measured 

against 1st surface aluminum reference standards thus show the smallest average divergence of StDevσ = 

0.006. This results in a general averaged divergence of StDev = 0.007. The larger distributions of standard 

deviation in Figure 2 compared to Figures 3 and 4 is a result of the different material properties of aluminum

and silvered polymer mirrors, which can have local variances.

4.2. Specular reflectance 

The second measured value is ρs(660nm, 15°, 12.5mrad). At the end of the round robin test, DLR and NREL 

samples were measured at DLR with a fourth 15R reflectometer (plotted as “DLR add”). The results are 

plotted in Figures 5-7 together with the standard deviation (σ) between laboratories.

Figure 5. ρs(660nm,15°,12.5mrad) for polymer film and 1st surface aluminum mirror. 
7 

 

The repeatability of specular reflectance for non-glass mirrors varies significantly at θ = 12.5 mrad (Figure 5) 

and even more at θ = 7.5 mrad. The aluminum and silvered polymer film mirrors have surfaces with 

microstructures and a complex reflected light distribution generally comprised of two Gaussians, one with a 

relatively high intensity that is highly specular (low θ) and the other having a relatively lower intensity and 

broader peak (high θ), which leads to local variation of reflectivity. The average deviation for all materials is 

StDev = 0.004. 

Measurements on glass mirrors show that the difference between the four instruments is almost constant. The 

two new instruments of CIEMAT and DLR (“DLR add”) have more similar and lower results than the two 

older instruments of NREL and DLR. 

5. Conclusion 

The round robin test performed revealed important conclusions, about how measurement accuracy depends 

strongly on method, instrument, and reference standard calibration quality, selection of correct reference 

standard, operator experience, and sample homogeneity that will be used to further improve the measurement 

Figure 6. ρs(660nm,15°,12.5mrad) for 2nd surface thin-glass mirrors.

Figure 7. ρs(660nm,15°,12.5mrad)for 2nd surface mirrors.
8 

procedure for detailed reflectance measurements. The goal of the procedure is to optimize the capabilities of 

current instruments in a way that is valid for all solar mirror types on the market. The measurement accuracy 

achieved could be much higher than the StDev = 0.007 for ρh(SW,8°,π) and StDev = 0.004 for ρs(660nm,

15°, 12.5mrad) measured in this round robin test.

A variation in reflectance values of 0.01 already has a significant impact on the efficiency and cost 

calculations for concentrating solar collectors; therefore, the reflectance measurement accuracy must be more 

precise than is currently possible. Improvements in commercial instruments and calibrated reference 

standards appropriate for the different CSP solar mirrors are critical. The work to develop a standard for 

solar-weighted reflectance measurements in accordance with the current state of the art will be continued. A 

new round robin test is planned with the improved and standardized method, and the accuracy of 

ρs(SW,15°,12.5mrad) will then be analyzed in greater detail. 

Acknowledgements

The authors thank all of the mirror manufacturers who participated in the round robin test by providing 

samples, DKE for supporting the INS standardization project, Björn Schiricke from DLR, and Gary 

Jorgensen, Robert Tirawat, Marc Oddo, Christa Loux, Bryan Price, and Matthew Beach from NREL. 

NREL’s part of this work was performed under DOE contract DE-AC36-99-GO10337.

References

[1] S. Meyen, E. Lüpfert, J. Pernpeintner, T. Fend, “Optical Characterization of Reflector Material for 

Concentrating Solar Power Technology,” SolarPaces Conference 2009.

[2] A. Rabl, Active Solar Collectors and their Applications, Chap.8, Oxford University Press, USA (1985). 

[3] W.D Short, “Optical Goals for Polymeric Film Reflectors,” SERI/SP-253-3383, National Renewable 

Energy Laboratory, Golden, CO, 1988.

[4] ASTM G173-03(2008), “Standard Tables for Reference Solar Spectral Irradiances: Direct Normal and 

Hemispherical on 37° Tilted Surface”, American Society for Testing and Materials, 2003. 

[5] DIN Standard 5036, Part 1, “Radiometric and photometric properties of materials: Definitions and 

characteristic factors,” July 1978, Berlin, Germany: Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.

[6] DIN Standard 5036, Part 3, “Radiometric and photometric properties of materials: Methods of 

measurement for photometric and spectral radiometric characteristic factors,” November 1979, Berlin, 

Germany: Deutsches Institut für Normung e.V.

[7] R.B. Pettit, “Characterizing Solar Mirror Materials Using Portable Reflectometer,” Sandia Report, 

Albuquerque, SAND82-1714 (1982). 

[8] ASTM E 903-96, “Standard Test Method for Solar Absorptance, Reflectance and Transmittance of 

Materials Using Integrating Spheres,” 1996 (Withdarwn 2005).

[9] P. Polato, E. Masetti, “Reflectance measurements of second-surface mirrors using commercial 

spectrophotometer accessories,” Solar Energy, 41 (5) (1988) 443-452.

[10] A. Fernández García, “Medida de reflectividad, velocidad de ensuciamiento y estrategia de limpieza de 

un campo solar de colectores cilindro parabólicos,” Proyecto Fin de Carrera, Universidad de Málaga 

(2004) 
F1147-E(10/2008)

REPORT DOCUMENTATION PAGE Form Approved

OMB No. 0704-0188

The public reporting burden for this collection of information is estimated to average 1 hour per response, including the time for reviewing instructions, searching existing data sources, 

gathering and maintaining the data needed, and completing and reviewing the collection of information. Send comments regarding this burden estimate or any other aspect of this 

collection of information, including suggestions for reducing the burden, to Department of Defense, Executive Services and Communications Directorate (0704-0188). Respondents 

should be aware that notwithstanding any other provision of law, no person shall be subject to any penalty for failing to comply with a collection of information if it does not display a 

currently valid OMB control number. 

PLEASE DO NOT RETURN YOUR FORM TO THE ABOVE ORGANIZATION.

1. REPORT DATE (DD-MM-YYYY)

October 2010

2. REPORT TYPE

Conference Paper

3. DATES COVERED (From - To)

4. TITLE AND SUBTITLE

Standardization of Solar Mirror Reflectance Measurements – Round 

Robin Test: Preprint

5a. CONTRACT NUMBER

DE-AC36-08GO28308

5b. GRANT NUMBER

5c. PROGRAM ELEMENT NUMBER

6. AUTHOR(S)

S. Meyen, E. Lüpfert (DLR German Aerospace Center)

A. F.García (CIEMAT)

C. Kennedy (NREL) 

5d. PROJECT NUMBER

NREL/CP-5500-49189

5e. TASK NUMBER

CP09.8101

5f. WORK UNIT NUMBER

7. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)

National Renewable Energy Laboratory

1617 Cole Blvd.

Golden, CO 80401-3393

8. PERFORMING ORGANIZATION

REPORT NUMBER

NREL/CP-5500-49189

9. SPONSORING/MONITORING AGENCY NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES) 10. SPONSOR/MONITOR'S ACRONYM(S)

NREL

11. SPONSORING/MONITORING

AGENCY REPORT NUMBER

12. DISTRIBUTION AVAILABILITY STATEMENT

National Technical Information Service

U.S. Department of Commerce

5285 Port Royal Road

Springfield, VA 22161

13. SUPPLEMENTARY NOTES

14. ABSTRACT (Maximum 200 Words)

Within the SolarPaces Task III standardization activities, DLR, CIEMAT, and NREL have concentrated on optimizing 

the procedure to measure the reflectance of solar mirrors. From this work, the laboratories have developed a clear 

definition of the method and requirements needed of commercial instruments for reliable reflectance results. A round 

robin test was performed between the three laboratories with samples that represent all of the commercial solar 

mirrors currently available for concentrating solar power (CSP) applications. The results show surprisingly large 

differences in hemispherical reflectance (sh) of 0.007 and specular reflectance (ss) of 0.004 between the 

laboratories. These differences indicate the importance of minimum instrument requirements and standardized 

procedures. Based on these results, the optimal procedure will be formulated and validated with a new round robin 

test in which a better accuracy is expected. Improved instruments and reference standards are needed to reach the 

necessary accuracy for cost and efficiency calculations.

15. SUBJECT TERMS

reflectance measurement procedure; solar mirror characterization; round robin test; standardization; 

spectrophotometer; reflectometer

16. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF: 17. LIMITATION 

OF ABSTRACT

UL

18. NUMBER 

OF PAGES

19a. NAME OF RESPONSIBLE PERSON

a. REPORT

Unclassified

b. ABSTRACT

Unclassified

c. THIS PAGE

Unclassified 19b. TELEPHONE NUMBER (Include area code)

Standard Form 298 (Rev. 8/98)

Prescribed by ANSI Std. Z39.18