Photovoltaic energy analysis using satellite data and nearly weather station

This master thesis, authored by the undersigned, is a collaborative effort involving Politecnico di Torino, Universidad de Jaén, and Lublin University of Technology. The study focuses on a 1.4 MWp photovoltaic (PV) plant situated near Bordziłówka, Poland, approximately 77 km from Lublin. Installed in 2014, the plant faces challenging meteorological conditions, including frequent snowfalls and other extreme conditions which lead to inaccurate data readings. The aim of this study is to find an alternative method to evaluate whether the energy production of the plant aligns with predictions based on solar irradiance and temperature conditions. For this comparison, data measured from the plant (such as solar irradiance, temperature, and instantaneous power) will be analyzed and compared to data from a weather station located in Włodawa, approximately 44.8 km away. Additionally, this study will incorporate datasets from PVGIS and SOLCAST to fill gaps in the weather station and PV plant data. PVGIS provides validated solar radiation and temperature data specific to the geographic location, while SOLCAST offers high-resolution solar forecasting data. These datasets enhance accuracy and facilitate comprehensive comparisons. The analysis includes the application of models to transpose solar irradiance measured on a horizontal plane to an inclined plane, a necessary step to accurately assess the energy production potential of the plant. Furthermore, predictive models are used to estimate energy production, allowing a detailed comparison between the predicted direct current (DC) output and the actual DC output measured by the PV plant. This comparison helps to identify discrepancies and assess the plant's performance under different meteorological conditions.