When discussing ideal locations for solar power generation, tropical deserts often come to mind. However, recent research suggests that some of the world's coldest regions, including the Himalayas, the Andes, and even Antarctica, may have greater potential for solar power generation. This research was published in the ACS journal Environmental Science and Technology.
Kotaro Kawajiri and colleagues explained that renewable energy generation is largely dependent on geographical location. Sunny arid and semi-arid regions have long been considered ideal sites for solar power generation. However, due to limited data on regions with extreme weather conditions, our understanding of the optimal geographical locations for solar power generation remains incomplete. Therefore, Kotaro Kawajiri and colleagues used an existing technique and available data to estimate potential areas for solar power generation. This technique takes into account the impact of temperature on the output power of solar cells. Future research will incorporate more variables, such as transmission losses and snowfall.
Unsurprisingly, they found that many tropical regions, such as the southwestern deserts of the United States, are indeed ideal locations for solar power generation. However, they also discovered that many high-altitude, cold regions can receive a large amount of sunlight, and the potential for solar power generation in these regions is even greater than in some desert areas, such as the Himalayas.
