Mostly for Solar Geeks; a short novella
We just got home from a short camping trip to Moraine Park CG in the only open camping loop in all of Rocky Mountain NP (with about six other hardy souls mostly tent camping). Elevation is 8,200 ft. Y...
Forum Discussion
Well I understand the effect of cell temperature on solar production. I understand that at higher elevations there is less atmosphere above so there is less scattering of photons, producing more direct radiation and less diffuse radiation. I occasionally view the webpage of the NREL facility in Golden, CO which is at about 5600 ft. You will quite often see irradiance above the 1kW/M^2 standard.
What I don't quite understand is that the air was not clear, there was a lot of high overcast, there were lots of heavy clouds, it was snowing. These factors should have overwhelmed the temperature and elevation components.
Most of my camping is above 8000 ft. and I have camped in this same location many times in periods of better weather and haven't seen this before although I have occasionally seen 400+ watts from my 370 watt system.
Gee, I wonder what it would do if I were up there when it was 32 degrees and "severe clear"?
What I don't quite understand is that the air was not clear, there was a lot of high overcast, there were lots of heavy clouds, it was snowing. These factors should have overwhelmed the temperature and elevation components.
Most of my camping is above 8000 ft. and I have camped in this same location many times in periods of better weather and haven't seen this before although I have occasionally seen 400+ watts from my 370 watt system.
Gee, I wonder what it would do if I were up there when it was 32 degrees and "severe clear"?
