Solar Energy Resource Assessment in Iraq ​

           The solar energy resource assessment projects are critical to the successful siting of solar thermal power plants. Before a plant is developed, the environment of the plant’s intended location must be studied in detail to ensure that the site will continue to deliver a consistent and reliable source of solar power. If it is determined that a site cannot harness a continuous and sufficient solar-energy supply, another site must be selected and researched.
          In order to provide a true data base for the parameters of global radiation as well as other parameters required for the solar site assessment, the ministry of science and technology request a monitoring station that fulfills these requirements and can be used for research purposes also. The solar station various initial sensors including : pyranometers; anemometers; wind speed vanes; temperature sensors with radiation shield, tipping bucket rain gauges ; rotating shadow band pyranometers RSR2, GPS receiver( to set data logger clock and to set  latitude, longitude  and altitude of the station), and communication modems was customized with this station. The data logger used was CR1000 and the station was solar powered with lead acid battery, the power supply was configured to take into account the upgrading of the station. Additional sensors such as CMP21 and POA irradiance with satellite or cellular communications will be added in future. This station should be considered as part of several similar monitoring stations that will be used to cover more solar area in Iraq.
          The parameters measured are: direct normal irradiance DNI; diffuse horizontal irradiance DHI; Global horizontal irradiance GHI; air temperature; barometric pressure, wind speed; wind direction and precipitation. The data retrieval and inspection was through direct connection to data logger; CR1000KD, NL116; CFMC16G; and SC115 module.
        The data tables are for one minute, hourly and daily data tables, A cleaning routine is implemented with a momentary switch used to request a two-minute pause in rotations to allow for sensor cleaning and leveling.
         After the station installation; operation and commissioning; our company provide an extensive special training course to the engineering staff of the ministry of science and technology and the project was operating properly now.  

RSR100 Solar Station Installed

Another view of RSR100 station shows its components.