The environmental factors affecting solar photovoltaic output

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Názov: The environmental factors affecting solar photovoltaic output
Autori: Bamisile, Olusola, Acen, Caroline, Cai, Dongsheng, Huang, Qi, Staffell, Iain
Zdroj: Bamisile, O, Acen, C, Cai, D, Huang, Q & Staffell, I 2025, 'The environmental factors affecting solar photovoltaic output', Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 208, 115073. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.115073
Rok vydania: 2025
Zbierka: Discovery - University of Dundee Online Publications
Predmety: Aerosols, Capacity factor, Climate change, Extreme weather, Irradiance, Productivity, Solar PV, Temperature, /dk/atira/pure/subjectarea/asjc/2100/2105, name=Renewable Energy, Sustainability and the Environment
Popis: The global expansion of solar photovoltaics (PV) is central to the global energy transition. As governments aim to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, solar PV is poised for rapid growth, particularly outside mid-latitude regions (China, Europe, US) where uptake has been highest. These new growth areas have diverse environmental conditions, where factors like higher temperatures and aerosol concentrations strongly impact solar power production. A comprehensive review of these effects therefore aids PV performance and siting optimization. This review examines six key influences: solar irradiance, ambient temperature, atmospheric conditions, terrain effects, extreme weather events, and long-term irradiance changes. First, solar irradiance has strong geographic and temporal variability, making it the most significant factor. Second, raising module temperature reduces efficiency by 0.4–0.5 % per degree Celsius, limiting productivity in hotter climates. Third, atmospheric conditions (clouds, aerosols, pollutants, and dust) can reduce electricity output by up to 60 %, especially in desert regions. Fourth, terrain factors like albedo and snow present mixed effects, with increased reflection boosting output but snow obstructing panels. Fifth, extreme weather like wildfires and hailstorms cause substantial damage, while solar eclipses lead to large but short-lived output losses. Finally, long-term changes in solar irradiance, driven by climate change and air pollutants, present future challenges for maintaining PV efficiency. Optimizing PV systems for diverse climates and mitigating environmental impacts on productivity is important to the continued success of solar photovoltaics. This review highlights the need for tailored strategies to maintain performance in varied and evolving environmental contexts.
Druh dokumentu: article in journal/newspaper
Popis súboru: application/pdf
Jazyk: English
Relation: info:eu-repo/semantics/altIdentifier/pissn/1364-0321
DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2024.115073
Dostupnosť: https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/en/publications/7ef0e5d0-0aa4-4c0c-8136-3a47420079e2
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2024.115073
https://discovery.dundee.ac.uk/ws/files/146761221/1-s2.0-S1364032124007998-main.pdf
https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85208508004
Rights: info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess ; http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/
Prístupové číslo: edsbas.C95D29D5
Databáza: BASE
Popis
Abstrakt:The global expansion of solar photovoltaics (PV) is central to the global energy transition. As governments aim to triple renewable energy capacity by 2030, solar PV is poised for rapid growth, particularly outside mid-latitude regions (China, Europe, US) where uptake has been highest. These new growth areas have diverse environmental conditions, where factors like higher temperatures and aerosol concentrations strongly impact solar power production. A comprehensive review of these effects therefore aids PV performance and siting optimization. This review examines six key influences: solar irradiance, ambient temperature, atmospheric conditions, terrain effects, extreme weather events, and long-term irradiance changes. First, solar irradiance has strong geographic and temporal variability, making it the most significant factor. Second, raising module temperature reduces efficiency by 0.4–0.5 % per degree Celsius, limiting productivity in hotter climates. Third, atmospheric conditions (clouds, aerosols, pollutants, and dust) can reduce electricity output by up to 60 %, especially in desert regions. Fourth, terrain factors like albedo and snow present mixed effects, with increased reflection boosting output but snow obstructing panels. Fifth, extreme weather like wildfires and hailstorms cause substantial damage, while solar eclipses lead to large but short-lived output losses. Finally, long-term changes in solar irradiance, driven by climate change and air pollutants, present future challenges for maintaining PV efficiency. Optimizing PV systems for diverse climates and mitigating environmental impacts on productivity is important to the continued success of solar photovoltaics. This review highlights the need for tailored strategies to maintain performance in varied and evolving environmental contexts.
DOI:10.1016/j.rser.2024.115073