@article{fdi:010079561,
  title = {{C}loudiness information services for solar energy management in {W}est {A}frica},
  author = {{D}anso, {D}. {K}. and {A}nquetin, {S}. and {D}iedhiou, {A}rona and {A}damou, {R}.},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{I}n {W}est {A}frica ({WA}), interest in solar energy development has risen in recent years with many planned and ongoing projects currently in the region. {H}owever, a major drawback to this development in the region is the intense cloud cover that reduces the incoming solar radiation when present and causes fluctuations in solar power production. {T}herefore, understanding the occurrence of clouds and their link to the surface solar radiation in the region is important for making plans to manage future solar energy production. {I}n this study, we use the state-of-the-art {E}uropean {C}entre for {M}edium-range {W}eather {F}orecasts {R}e{A}nalysis ({ERA}5) dataset to examine the occurrence and persistence of cloudy and clear-sky conditions in the region. {T}hen, we investigate the effects of cloud cover on the quantity and variability of the incoming solar radiation. {T}he cloud shortwave radiation attenuation ({CRASW} down arrow) is used to quantify the amount of incoming solar radiation that is lost due to clouds. {T}he results showed that the attenuation of incoming solar radiation is stronger in all months over the southern part of {WA} near the {G}uinea {C}oast. {A}cross the whole region, the maximum attenuation occurs in {A}ugust, with a mean{CRASW} down arrow of about 55% over southern {WA} and between 20% and 35% in the {S}ahelian region. {S}outhern {WA} is characterized by a higher occurrence of persistent cloudy conditions, while the {S}ahel region and northern {WA} are associated with frequent clear-sky conditions. {N}onetheless, continuous periods with extremely low surface solar radiation were found to be few over the whole region. {T}he analysis also showed that the surface solar radiation received from {N}ovember to {A}pril only varies marginally from one year to the other. {H}owever, there is a higher uncertainty during the core of the monsoon season ({J}une to {O}ctober) with regard to the quantity of incoming solar radiation. {T}he results obtained show the need for robust management plans to ensure the long-term success of solar energy projects in the region.},
  keywords = {cloud cover ; solar energy ; surface solar radiation ; attenuation ; {W}est {A}frica ; {ERA}5 ; {AFRIQUE} {DE} {L}'{OUEST} ; {SENEGAL} ; {BURKINA} {FASO} ; {NIGER} ; {BENIN} ; {TOGO} ; {COTE} {D}'{IVOIRE}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{A}tmosphere},
  volume = {11},
  numero = {8},
  pages = {857 [18 ]},
  year = {2020},
  DOI = {10.3390/atmos11080857},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010079561},
}