Concentrating solar power
Subtitle: best practices handbook for the collection and use of solar resource data
By: Tom Stoffel ... [et al.].
Contributors: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (U.S.)
Series: NREL/TP -- 550-47465; NREL/TP -- 550-47465.
Publisher: National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Published: 2010
Place of publication: Golden, Colo
Language: eng
Format: [electronic resource] :
Number of pages: 130
Subjects: Solar concentrators; Handbooks, manuals; Solar collectors; Solar radiation; Measurement; Spectral irradiance; Radiometers; Directories
Description: Photovoltaics and concentrating solar power (CSP) are two primary forms of electricity generation using sunlight. These use different technologies, collect different fractions of the solar resource, and have different siting and production capabilities. Although PV systems are most often deployed as distributed generation sources, CSP systems favor large, centrally located systems. Accordingly, large CSP systems require a substantial investment, sometimes exceeding $1 billion in construction costs. Before such a project is undertaken, the best possible information about the quality and reliability of the fuel source must be made available. That is, project developers need to have reliable data about the solar resource available at specific locations to predict the daily and annual performance of a proposed CSP plant. Without these data, no financial analysis is possible. This handbook presents detailed information about solar resource data and the resulting data products needed for each stage of the project.
Notes: Title from title screen (viewed Sept. 20, 2010).

"September 2010."

Includes bibliographical references (p. 119-127).

DE-AC36-08GO28308 SS10.1720

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