Remote Sensing-Based Estimation of Potential Solar PV Power Output Considering the Effects of High Temperature, Dust and Precipitation: Case of the Philippines

Satellite-derived solar radiation data provide measurements of surface solar energy available for solar PV power production. However, as solar radiation enters the atmosphere, its interaction with atmospheric constituents causes the attenuation of a significant amount of energy. The advantages of solar PV systems as an alternative for electricity generation are in terms of their scalability and solar cell conversion efficiency. However, environmental factors such as dust accumulation can significantly affect these systems. Precipitation may act as a natural cleaning agent while high temperature reduces cell efficiency and power output. The objective of this study is to estimate the potential of solar PV power (PPV) output in the Philippines using remotely-sensed shortwave radiation (SWR) data from Advanced Himawari Imager (AHI)-8/9 considering the effects of high temperature, dust and precipitation. Results show that a minimum of 195.88 MW and a maximum of 1,147.48 MW effective PPV output on a monthly average basis can be produced, and 440.08 to 899.61 MW on an annual average basis. A decrease in PPV output of up to 38.90% annually and up to 58.85% monthly were observed due to the combined effects of high temperature and dust accumulation in the Philippines. A comparison of the SWR data considering the effects of meteorological factors and actual PV power production data suggests a high correlation in the cities of Baguio
$\mathrm{R}^{2}=0.8$
, in Cebu
$\mathrm{R}^{2}=0.8$
, and in Tagum
$\mathrm{R}^{2}=0.7$
located in the three major Philippine island groups of Luzon, Visayas, and Mindanao, respectively. This localized study incorporating the meteorological effects suggests that satellite-derived solar radiation measurements can be a good substitute for in-situ data in estimating the solar PV power output.