Köppen-Geiger-Photovoltaic Climate Classification

A new photovoltaic climate classification scheme that mixes the Köppen-Geiger climate classification with solar irradiation is proposed to give a simplified correlation between climate zones and performance of photovoltaic (PV) systems over large geographical areas. Temperature, precipitation and irradiation datasets have been combined using two classification levels to create 12 different climate zones. Additionally, the same datasets have been used in a comprehensive methodology to calculate the energy yield of PV systems. Numerical simulations have been run to compare different technologies over climates in the Contiguous U.S. and the continental territory of Chile. This paper opens the field for further analyses to be carried out across Europe and other regions worldwide.