The KNMI operates a weather station at Groningen Airport Eelde. In 2019, solar panels were installed next to the station by the airport. Because the impact of the solar panels on measurements was unclear, several studies were conducted, the results of which are now known.
The KNMI installed a parallel setup that has measured the influence of the solar panels since 2020. The findings of this setup have been measured until this year (2025) and reported. The research shows, among other things, that the setup measuring temperature, the so-called 1.5 meter air temperature/relative humidity and the 10 cm air temperature, must be relocated to a site 35 meters south of the current station. The new setup has been in use since November 11.
The research shows that the solar park causes an increase in the annual average maximum temperature of 0.1°C and a decrease in the annual average minimum temperature of about 0.3°C. Relocation to the new location is expected to eliminate the increase in maximum temperature and reduce the decrease in minimum temperature to 0.1°C. The solar park has no detectable effect on global radiation measurements.
What does an automatic weather station measure?
A complete automatic weather station from the KNMI measures air temperature, humidity, air pressure, wind speed and direction, precipitation amount, type of precipitation (rain, snow), cloud height and amount, solar radiation, and horizontal visibility. Cloudiness, visibility, and precipitation type are not measured at all stations. At four stations in the Netherlands, soil temperature is also measured.
