Energy-Specific Solar Radiation Data from Meteosat Second Generation
(MSG): The Heliosat-3 Project
(2002)Abstract
In the context of a safe and environment-friendly energy supply renewable
energy systems will be the energy source of the future. Wind energy
has become an important energy source in Europe (e.g. 15 % in Denmark)
with an impressive expansion rate. The usage of solar energy will
experience an enormous increase within the next 10 years as well.
For the optimal and efficient use of solar energy and its integration
into the electricity grid, accurate solar irradiance data in a high
spatial and temporal resolution are necessary. Solar irradiance schemes
provide these data based on weather satellites such as Meteosat or
MSG. A successful integration of solar energy technologies into the
existing energy structure highly depends on a detailed knowledge
of the solar resource. HELIOSAT-3 will supply high quality solar
radiation data gained from the exploitation of existing Earth observation
technologies and will take advantage of the enhanced capabilities
of the new Meteosat Second Generation (MSG) meteorological satellites.
The expected quality represents a substantial improvement with respect
to the available methods and will better match the needs of the users
of the resulting products. In particular, HELIOSAT-3 will provide
.. solar irradiance data with high accuracy and spacetime resolution
necessary for solar energy applications, plus a large geographical
coverage .. additional solar energy specific data (direct and spectral
irradiance, angular distribution of diffuse irradiance, spatial structure
of irradiance) according to the needs of end-users .. information
on HELIOSAT-3 products, its sustainability as a service and its potential
benefits to end-users. The objectives of the HELIOSAT-3 project will
be achieved by the development and establishment of a new type of
solar irradiance calculation schemes (see chapter 3). This scheme
will be based on satellite retrieved atmospheric data (see chapter
2)