From solar radiation estimation to solar energy potential in the High Arctic

The High Arctic is a remote region with a harsh climate where communities mainly rely on fossil energy sources. In Longyearbyen, located in the archipelago of Svalbard at 78°N, solar energy is considered as one of the future energy sources. The available solar radiation must therefore be estimated to have solar energy as part of the energy mix. To achieve this goal, the University Centre in Svalbard has maintained a weather station that has recorded ten years of solar radiation data with a Kipp and Zonen CNR1 net radiometer. Additional pyranometers have been installed at other locations, at different altitudes, and with different configurations to establish a more complete atlas of the solar irradiance around Longyearbyen.

The solar irradiance in the High Arctic has different characteristics than that usually encountered at mid-latitudes. There are 24 hours of sunlight during summer and polar nights during winter. When the sun is present, its position and path in the sky differ from further south. In addition, the air mass, atmospheric aerosols, and albedo have an impact on radiation that is peculiar to the Arctic. All those specificities have yet to be completely understood for the Arctic, and hence some uncertainties remain about solar radiation.

A better understanding of the solar radiation received in Longyearbyen will help implement the future solar energy solution for the Arctic. The aim is to accurately estimate solar radiation at high latitudes, capture variability and predictability, and understand which solar cell configuration is optimal. In particular, differences between horizontal and plane-of-array irradiance have been investigated because of the very low elevation angle of the sun. The solar radiation distributions over different time scales have further been assessed using observations. Moreover, the impact of external factors on solar radiation, such as albedo, has been considered. In the future, the collected data will be used to assess Svalbard's solar PV potential.