Observed Recent Trends in the Solar Resource across North America: Changing Cloud-cover, AOD and the Implications for PV Yield

This study was prompted by recent low-resource years in the eastern US observed in the SolarAnywhereTM dataset. Herein, we investigate 20-year trends in GHI and clear-sky GHI for every latitude/longitude pair in the continental United States. Metrics we calculate are 20-year rate-of-change, means, and inter-annual variability. We also look at the changes in GHI attributable to changes in AOD over this time-period. Thanks to accurate remote sensing, we can now provide this useful information. Our analysis also provides a solar industry perspective by quantifying the trends in potential kWhAc/kWDc for PV across the same regions; trends influenced largely GHI but also by temperature. These trends are not only important to understand from a bankability and performance assessment perspective for solar energy applications but also for future planning.