The meteo network is a cooperation of the DLR with international research institutes and industry partners. The main objective behind the establishment of the network of meteorological stations is to supply reliable meteorological data of the MENA region, especially those of the Direct Normal Irradiance (DNI) that are necessary for the implementation of concentrated solar power (CSP) technologies. The network was created as part of the enerMENA initative. Scientists of the DLR, the spanish research centre CIEMAT and of the MENA countries collect the relevant meteorological parameters at several sites in Spain and the MENA region.
There are currently ten high-precision meteorological stations installed in five MENA partner countries, with an additional two being planned (see list of partners below) to set up a base for the enerMENA Meteo-Network.The obtained meteorological data are bilaterally shared and jointly analysed with project partners. Moreover, the data is available for all parties working on CSP related research and development activities in the region. It can be used also for the preparation of feasibilitiy studies, project performance calculations, support of project financing and solar power plant operation monitoring.
The enerMENA stations provide measurement data of:
The enerMENA meteorological stations are equipped with a Kipp & Zonen CHP1 first class pyrheliometer and ventilated CMP21 secondary standard pyranometers mounted on a Solys 2 sun tracker with a sun sensor.
enerMENA Meteo-Network Partners
Spain
Further details can be found in Schüler, D., S. Wilbert, N. Geuder, R. Affolter, F. Wolfertstetter, C. Prahl, M. Röger, M. Schroedter-Homscheidt, G. Abdellatif, A. Allah Guizani, M. Balghouthi, A. Khalil, A. Mezrhab, A. Al-Salaymeh, N. Yassaa, F. Chellali, D. Draou, P. Blanc, J. Dubranna, and O. M. K. Sabry. 2016. "The enerMENA meteorological network – Solar radiation measurements in the MENA region." AIP Conference Proceedings no. 1734 (1):150008.