We often hear that [solar energy is nowadays one of the cheapest forms of energy](https://reddit.com/r/europe/comments/ws8fk1/cost_comparison_solar_photovoltaic_vs_fossil_gas/). However often the representations are overly simplistic because they aggregate over large areas, but solar energy has vastly different potentials depending on latitude, altitude, and average cloud cover. This map shows the potential of solar energy in different parts of Europe ([world map available here](https://solargis.com/maps-and-gis-data/download/world)). We see that for example Southern Spain has more than double the potential of Northern Ireland.
## Legend Explanation
kWp (kilo Watt peak) is the manufacturer’s estimate of the peak power output of the solar panel. I.e. a daily total of 5 kWh/kWp means that, if you installed a 1 kWp solar panel, then, on average, it would produce 5 kWh of power each day.
Note that the legend is adjusted to Europe. Parts of Arizona, the Middle East, South- and Saharan Africa can reach a PVOUT of 6.0 kWh/kWp.
> PVOUT map provides a summary of estimated solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation potential. It represents long-term average of yearly/daily potential electricity production from a 1 kW-peak grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant.
> The PV system configuration consists of ground-based, free-standing structures with crystalline-silicon PV modules mounted at a fixed position, with optimum tilt to maximize yearly energy yield. Use of high efficiency inverters is assumed. The solar electricity calculation is based on high-resolution solar resource data and PV modeling software provided by Solargis. The calculation takes into account solar radiation, air temperature, and terrain, to simulate the energy conversion and losses in the PV modules and other components of a PV power plant. In the simulation, losses due to dirt and soiling was estimated to be 3.5%. The cumulative effect of other conversion losses (inter-row shading, mismatch, inverters, cables, transformer, etc.) is assumed to be 7.5%. The power plant availability is considered to be 100%.
> The underlying solar resource database is calculated from atmospheric and satellite data with a 10-minute, 15-minute and 30-minute time step, and a nominal spatial resolution of 1 km. Air-temperature above ground is postprocessed from ERA5 reanalysis database. The effects of terrain are considered at the spatial resolution of 1 km.
2 comments
We often hear that [solar energy is nowadays one of the cheapest forms of energy](https://reddit.com/r/europe/comments/ws8fk1/cost_comparison_solar_photovoltaic_vs_fossil_gas/). However often the representations are overly simplistic because they aggregate over large areas, but solar energy has vastly different potentials depending on latitude, altitude, and average cloud cover. This map shows the potential of solar energy in different parts of Europe ([world map available here](https://solargis.com/maps-and-gis-data/download/world)). We see that for example Southern Spain has more than double the potential of Northern Ireland.
## Legend Explanation
kWp (kilo Watt peak) is the manufacturer’s estimate of the peak power output of the solar panel. I.e. a daily total of 5 kWh/kWp means that, if you installed a 1 kWp solar panel, then, on average, it would produce 5 kWh of power each day.
Note that the legend is adjusted to Europe. Parts of Arizona, the Middle East, South- and Saharan Africa can reach a PVOUT of 6.0 kWh/kWp.
## About the data – [Photovoltaic Power Potential (PVOUT)](https://solargis.com/maps-and-gis-data/tech-specs)
> PVOUT map provides a summary of estimated solar photovoltaic (PV) power generation potential. It represents long-term average of yearly/daily potential electricity production from a 1 kW-peak grid-connected solar photovoltaic (PV) power plant.
> The PV system configuration consists of ground-based, free-standing structures with crystalline-silicon PV modules mounted at a fixed position, with optimum tilt to maximize yearly energy yield. Use of high efficiency inverters is assumed. The solar electricity calculation is based on high-resolution solar resource data and PV modeling software provided by Solargis. The calculation takes into account solar radiation, air temperature, and terrain, to simulate the energy conversion and losses in the PV modules and other components of a PV power plant. In the simulation, losses due to dirt and soiling was estimated to be 3.5%. The cumulative effect of other conversion losses (inter-row shading, mismatch, inverters, cables, transformer, etc.) is assumed to be 7.5%. The power plant availability is considered to be 100%.
> The underlying solar resource database is calculated from atmospheric and satellite data with a 10-minute, 15-minute and 30-minute time step, and a nominal spatial resolution of 1 km. Air-temperature above ground is postprocessed from ERA5 reanalysis database. The effects of terrain are considered at the spatial resolution of 1 km.
## Source: https://solargis.com/maps-and-gis-data
Let’s install giant solar farms in Spain to produce the continent’s hydrogen