Earth from Orbit: Satellites and Solar Energy

Sometimes when looking at satellite imagery, you can see areas of light that gleam or sparkle with an unusual brightness. This effect is known as sunglint, and occurs when sunlight is reflected off the surface of Earth at the same angle that the sensor views it. Sunglint in satellite imagery is often seen over water, but it is also seen reflected from solar panels. While an interesting phenomenon to see, there’s actually an important connection between satellite observations and solar energy production. Detailed data about clouds from NOAA satellites can aid solar energy forecasts.

Solar radiation, or the electromagnetic energy emitted by the sun, can be captured and converted into useful forms of energy such as heat and electricity. Clouds play a key role in the transfer of energy through the atmosphere. Therefore, clouds affect the output of ground-based solar power generation systems. The amount of power these systems can produce is dependent on the level of light they receive, both directly from the sun and via light reflected from all parts of the sky in the hemisphere above.

So how can the solar industry determine how much sunlight their systems will get, monitor efficiency, and maintain a balance between power generation and consumption? The view from 22,300 miles above can help. Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellites (GOES) are particularly useful in the short-term prediction of solar radiation for renewable energy production.

Learn more: https://www.nesdis.noaa.gov/satellite...

Credits:
NOAA
NASA
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
CIRA

Music credit:
“Driving Wonder Pulse” by Luke Gordon [PRS] and Mark Havryliv [APRA], both Universal Production Music