WELCOME TO THE KIPP & ZONEN BLOG

Welcome to the Kipp & Zonen Blog. This Blog gives you the personal views and opinions of your Kipp & Zonen team. We will publish on products, tools, developments, or in general: on any subject relevant for the Kipp & Zonen community.

Measuring Global Solar Irradiance

CMP 11 pyranometer monitors the performance of PV Panels

CMP 11 pyranometer monitors the performance of PV Panels at CSTB, France

Solar, atmospheric and terrestrial radiation drives almost every dynamic process on the Earth’s surface and above, from ocean current circulation to weather, climate and life itself. However, it is only recently that it has become widely used as an energy source for the production of electrical power. But what is solar radiation? How is it measured? What is a pyranometer and how does it work?

Kipp & Zonen of Delft, the Netherlands, has been manufacturing pyranometers for over 80 years. In this blog Business Manager Clive Lee answers these questions and introduces a revolutionary new generation of instruments – the Smart Pyranometer.

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Best EGU for years!

The European Geosciences Union (EGU) General Assembly this year was possibly the best ever. Over 11,000 attendees from 95 countries and I never saw so many posters, 9092 in total and changed every day. We had a lot of scientists visiting the Kipp & Zonen booth to discuss current and future projects. Many of them are already satisfied users of our instruments and there were some novel applications that we will feature in future Newsletters.

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Impressed with Acciona’s Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) plants Palma del Rio I and II

On 24 and 25 April I was in one of the most impressive surroundings I’ve ever experienced; solar thermal energy plant Palma del Rio (I and II) in the Spanish region of Andalusia. This large 270 ha solar energy plant of Acciona is filled with parabolic mirrors that gives an overwhelming feeling of mystery and innovation. It has the potential of 100 MW and can provide 70,000 homes with electricity. This is the scene of part two of our corporate video.

Kipp & Zonen Acciona CSP plant Palma del Rio

Countless rows of mirrors at CSP plants Palma del Rio I and II

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On the history ofthe pyranometer

Currently there is a lot of interest in the history of scientific instruments and their measurements. The pyranometer is still one of Kipp & Zonen’s core products today, but it dates back to the early years of the last century. Who better to ask than our senior scientist Leo van Wely to reflect on this subject? Leo just retired, but is more than happy to keep involved with his passion for 33 years.

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