Potential impact of contrails on solar energy gain
The effect of contrails on global short-wave radiation (sum of direct and downward diffuse solar radiation) and on solar energy gain was investigated. The study was performed during days with high contrail persistence and focused on situations where the contrails were obstructing the sun. Measuremen...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Copernicus Publications
2015-03-01
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| Series: | Atmospheric Measurement Techniques |
| Online Access: | http://www.atmos-meas-tech.net/8/1089/2015/amt-8-1089-2015.pdf |
| Summary: | The effect of contrails on
global short-wave radiation (sum of direct and downward diffuse solar
radiation) and on solar energy gain was investigated. The study was performed
during days with high contrail persistence and focused on situations where
the contrails were obstructing the sun. Measurements of cloudiness using a
fish-eye camera, diffuse and direct short-wave measurements and measurements
of the short circuit current of three different types of photovoltaic (PV)
modules were performed at the Kanzelhöhe Observatory (1540 m a.s.l.)
with a time resolution of 1 min over a period of 1 year. The results
show that contrails moving between sun and observer/sensor may reduce the
global radiation by up to 72%. An analysis of contrail persistence and
the influence of contrails on global irradiance and solar energy gain is
presented. The losses in solar energy gain that were recorded may be critical
under specific circumstances. |
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| ISSN: | 1867-1381 1867-8548 |