Losses of solar power production in Finland due to snow cover can be more than half of the production during the summer

Solar power production is strongly dependent on the prevailing weather conditions. In order to maximise the integration of rapidly increasing PV systems into buildings and the electric power network, predictions and optimisation are needed.

The study showed that the production model could provide information on such factors as local shading factors affecting production and loss of production caused by snow cover on panels.

Further information:

Researcher Herman Böök, Finnish Meteorological Institute, tel. +358 40 838 3411, herman.book@fmi.fi

Reference: Böök, H., Poikonen, A., Aarva, A., Mielonen, T., Pitkänen, M.R.A., Lindfors, A.V., 2020: Photovoltaic system modeling: A validation study at high latitudes with implementation of a novel DNI quality control method. Solar Energy, 204, 316-329, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2020.04.068

Two example days on the performance of the solar power production model on minute level in Helsinki and Kuopio. The relative error of the model (model / measured - 1) is shown below the day-specific images. Source: Böök etc. (2020)