研究目的

To evaluate climatic (ambient air temperature, relative humidity, winds, precipitation), atmospheric particles (aerosol concentration, aerosol optical depth) and solar radiation conditions at two sites (San Antonio de los Cobres and El Leoncito, and their surrounding area) in the Argentinean (East) Andes range, where large PV (and photo thermal) solar power plants can be emplaced. We compare these sites with others selected in other continents for solar energy generation: Ouarzazate, Morocco, in Africa, where a large solar plan is operating, and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, in Asia, where a large solar plant is currently under construction.

研究成果

The results obtained in this study evidence that San Antonio de los Cobres (SAC) and El Leoncito (LEO) sites, and their considered adjacent regions, placed in the Argentinean Andes range, are very suitable sites for the placement of solar power plants, due to the sum of very important factors: high solar irradiation, extremely low atmospheric particulate matter, low water content of the atmosphere, low mean ambient temperature, and high altitude. The placement of solar power plants at the proposed SAC and LEO sites could partially provide electricity not only to all the country through the National Electric Interconnected System, but also to isolated (low income) populations leaving in the Argentina Andes range.

研究不足

The study relies on satellite data and ground-based measurements which may have limitations in accuracy and coverage. The comparison with other sites is based on data from the same satellite over passing the four sites in the same period of years, which may not account for all local variations.