List of monitored photovoltaic power stations

Variation in solar power output over one year in Germany

Photovoltaic power stations can range in size from a single 200 Watt panel (0.2 kW) to over 500 MW (500,000 kW). A 200 Watt panel measures about 1 metre (3 ft 3 in) by 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in)^[1] depending on the efficiency of the panel - an 8% efficient solar panel has twice the area of a 16% efficient panel, to be able to put out the same nominal power at Standard Test Conditions of 1 kW/m² illumination. A 2 kW system will fit on the roof of a small house, while a 2 MW system (2000 kW) is football field sized. Utility scale solar farms are much larger - a 500 MW solar farm covers an area roughly one to two kilometers on each side.

Photovoltaics is a variable renewable energy (VRE), unlike hydroelectricity or geothermal, and much of the output must be buffered or stored for when it can be used. During an overcast day, the peak output never reaches a level close to what is reached on a clear day. On a partly cloudy day, output varies dramatically as clouds cover the array, and each time the sun shines through the output jumps up to what it would have been on a clear day. Latitude dramatically affects the annual output, with output dropping to zero in winter north and south of the arctic circles. At other latitudes lower sun angles reduce output in winter.

Another factor is cleaning the panels. Google's output doubled when its flat mounted panels were cleaned after 15 months of operation. Rain was sufficient to keep the tilted panels clean.^[2]

This article serves as a virtual map of photovoltaic power station performance in all regions of the planet. It is a representative, not an inclusive list, as there are tens of thousands of systems that could be used. The goal is to have at least one system for every region, and preferably three systems from each region, to allow comparison.

Europe

North America