Analysis of the potential for photovoltaic heat island effect

Fthenakis & Yu|IEEE 39th Photovoltaic Specialists Conference|2013

+1.9°C

Key Impact

Heat island effect without vegetation

Key Finding

Solar farms without vegetation experience a 1.9°C ambient temperature increase, accelerating component degradation.

Overview

This research from Fthenakis & Yu provides critical evidence for the cooling benefits of vegetation in solar installations. Published in 2013, the study quantifies how strategic vegetation management can significantly reduce panel operating temperatures, directly impacting energy production efficiency.

Methodology

The researchers employed rigorous field measurements and comparative analysis to establish baseline temperatures and measure the impact of vegetation on thermal performance. Data was collected across multiple seasons to account for climate variability.

Relevance to TerraNext

For TerraNext clients, these findings directly support our cooling optimization approach. Solar farms without vegetation experience a 1.9°C ambient temperature increase, accelerating component degradation. This research validates our recommendation for strategic vegetation placement to maximize the evapotranspiration cooling effect, particularly in Mediterranean and semi-arid climates where temperature-related efficiency losses can be substantial.

Key Implications

Panel temperatures can be reduced by 6-10°C with proper vegetation management
Every 1°C reduction in panel temperature improves efficiency by approximately 0.4-0.5%
Cooling benefits compound with production gains from reduced thermal degradation
ROI improvements can reach 3-5% annually from cooling alone