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Urban air pollution and solar energyThe design and performance of solar energy systems for many potential applications (industrial/residential heat, electricity generation by solar concentration and photovoltaics) will be critically affected by local insolation conditions. The effects of urban air pollution are considered and reviewed. A study of insolation data for Alhambra, California (9 km south of Pasadena) shows that, during a recent second-stage photochemical smog alert (greater than or equal to 0.35 ppm ozone), the direct-beam insolation at solar noon was reduced by 40%, and the total global by 15%, from clean air values. Similar effects have been observed in Pasadena, and are attributable primarily to air pollution. Effects due to advecting smog have been detected 200 km away, in the Mojave Desert. Preliminary performance and economic simulations of solar thermal and photovoltaic power systems indicate increasing nonlinear sensitivity of life cycle plant cost to reductions in insolation levels due to pollution.
Document ID
19820036604
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Gammon, R. B.
(New South Wales Energy Authority, Sydney, Australia)
Huning, J. R.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Reid, M. S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Smith, J. H.
(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
October 1, 1981
Publication Information
Publication: International Journal of Ambient Energy
Volume: 2
Subject Category
Energy Production And Conversion
Accession Number
82A20139
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS7-100
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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