Low-Cost Sensor for Solar Resource Assessment and Microclimate Monitoring: Cooperative Research and Development Final Report, CRADA Number CRD-17-686

Under this Agreement, NREL will work with Arable Labs, Inc. to improve the instrumentation and measurement systems available for measuring and monitoring solar radiation elements needed by electric utilities and solar power system integrators to adequately characterize the spatial and temporal variations of the renewable energy resources. The Arable Labs’ low-cost system contains a combination of fast response detectors that will provide meteorological and trending information of significantly improved accuracy for solar resource assessment and forecasting in solar energy projects. The proposed work includes utilizing NREL’s SRRL ISO-17025 accredited calibration facility and expertise to perform accurate spectral and broadband calibration and characterization of the fast response detectors in the Arable Labs’ system, and, assisting Arable Labs’ in developing a published methodology that will enable implementation of the results into their production pipe resulting in more accurate solar resource measurements for end-user organizations.