Made on behalf of the European Commission, DG XII, JOULE II Programme
A new solar radiation atlas for Europe up to the Ural mountains and including neighbouring mediterranean
territories is being produced by a European group of experts. The atlas is oriented towards the needs of the users like solar
architects and engineers, respecting the state of the art of
their working field and their need of precise input data.
From best available measured solar data
complemented with other meteorological data necessary for solar
engineering, digital maps for the European continents are produced.
Satellite-derived maps help in improving accuracy in spatial
interpolation. Test Reference Years are included.
The European Solar Radiation Atlas is currently
being edited by 'Les Presses de l'Ecole'. It comprises a hard-copy
atlas and a CD for PC, including the ESRA data base with the
mapping in digital form, algorithms to calculate derived parameters
and input files for engineering issues. It will be complemented
by a users guidebook. Information from past and ongoing European
Union solar projects will be integrated.
