Researchers

Researchers associated with institutions in Saudi Arabia, the Gulf region, and around the world can use the Atlas to understand renewable resource characteristics, contribute to technology development, and support a wide variety of scientific, policy, and planning studies.

Researchers require accurate and representative time series data to understand the characteristics of renewable energy resources and the environment in which renewable energy technologies will be deployed. Many Saudi Arabian universities, technical institutes, and technical colleges are also serving as solar monitoring stations hosts, gaining opportunities for hands-on access to resource data in partnership with K.A.CARE.

Research Projects

Some examples of research projects that the Renewable Resource Atlas data can be utilized include:

Improved data analysis methods for characterizing solar resources, including integration with satellite-based datasets
Characterization of aerosol and dust impacts on solar resources, human health, agriculture, and the environment
Development, optimization, and performance testing of solar power conversion technologies
Solar radiation resources as an input to agriculture, chemical, biological, and ecological studies
Energy efficiency applications for architecture and building design

Atlas Datasets

For Researchers, most of the information on the Atlas is currently on solar resources, with limited information on wind resources, and most of the available datasets can be mapped, graphed, and downloaded. A simple log-in process is required to view and download monthly average data immediately. Daily and hourly average data aggregations are also available to download as paid information in the Atlas.

Data on geothermal and waste-to-energy resources are not yet available in the Atlas.

Atlas Datasets of most interest for Researchers include:

Solar resource data (DNI, GHI) from an expanding newly operational network of solar resource monitors around Saudi Arabia, including data uncertainty information. By the end of 2015, over 50 stations will be active.
Example modeled solar resource data drawing primarily on satellite-based inputs, but not yet adapted to reflect the new solar monitoring network data.
Dust deposition and aerosol optical depth data (AOD, degree to which aerosols prevent the transmission of light by absorption or scattering) for 7 of the stations included in the newly operational solar network in Saudi Arabia, to be completed by the end of 2015.
Meteorological data measured as part of the newly operational network of solar monitoring stations.
Wind resource data from a few 100-m tall monitoring masts, one of which was installed on the K.A.CARE City Site in October 2013. A total of 40 monitoring mast will be included .
Example modeled wind resource data showing annual average wind speeds at a resolution of 3 km x 3 km based on numerical mesoscale modeling.

Get started exploring the summary data on the Atlas, or log-in to proceed to more detailed data.

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Researchers