4 FAQs about Solar power generation technology distribution map

What is a solar energy map?

The map also contins information about days over 100 degrees, and if a solar site falls within an opportunity zone. This map contains multiple layers showcasing solar infrastructure within the US. The map visualizes solar power plants, electric power transmission lines, and the photovoltaic (PV) electricity output potential by Census Tracts.

Where can I find information on solar power plants?

The Global Power Plant Database from the World Resources Institute (WRI), which includes information on thermal and renewable energy power plant facilities. The U.S. Large-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Database (USPVDB) from the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL).

How can we find large solar energy generating facilities?

By utilizing satellite imagery and machine learning techniques, a team from Descartes Labs based in New Mexico published the first global inventory of large solar energy generating facilities in the journal Nature in October of 2021. Two different satellite data sources were used: Airbus SPOT and Sentinel 2 (S2).

What is a solar map based application?

Online map-based application: Interactive maps allow visualisation of global solar resource data at approx 250 m grid resolution, covering global horizontal irradiation (GHI), direct normal irradiation (DNI), diffuse horizontal irradiation (DIF), and also PV power potential (PVOUT) and air temperature (TEMP) data at approx. 1 km.

View/Download Solar power generation technology distribution map [PDF]

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