Dreaming of Spring Clouds
Clouds. In the north, we get days of grey overcast skies in winter.
There are all kinds but they are not distributed evenly. NOAA: National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration shared a great guide to clouds [1]. Each one has a unique way of interacting with light. Regardless of the kind of clouds, the more dense they are, the less solar power is generated on the ground.
Interestingly, the types of clouds and the percentage of cover varies with latitude. One of the key validation papers for National Renewable Energy Laboratory's National Solar Radiation Database has a great chart illustrating this relationship between latitude and clouds [2]. This relationship highlights one of the challenges with using solar power in the northern latitudes.
Fortunately, while clouds block out the sun, they do not block out radio frequencies. This is why it will be possible for a space based solar power (SBSP) satellite to wirelessly transfer power to the ground and provide clean, firm, renewable power 24/7 in all weather and seasons.
