Theses and Dissertations
Issuing Body
Mississippi State University
Advisor
Dyer, Jamie L.
Committee Member
Fuhrmann, Christopher M.
Committee Member
Mercer, Andrew E.
Date of Degree
8-9-2022
Document Type
Graduate Thesis - Open Access
Major
Atmospheric Science and Climatology
Degree Name
Master of Science (M.S.)
College
College of Arts and Sciences
Department
Department of Geosciences
Abstract
This research uses satellite data and the moment statistics to determine if solar farms can be placed in the Southeast US. From 2001-2019, the data are analyzed in reference to the Southwest US, where solar farms are located. The clean energy need is becoming more common; therefore, more locations than arid environments must be observed. The Southeast US is the main location of interest due to the warm, moist environment throughout the year. This research uses the Global Land Surface Satellite (GLASS) photosynthetically active radiation product (PAR) to determine viable locations for solar panels. A probability density function (PDF) along with the moment statistics are utilized to determine statistic thresholds from solar farms in the Southwest US. For the Southeast US, three major locations were determined to be a viable option: Mississippi Delta, Northwest Florida, and Southwestern Alabama. This research shows that solar farms can be efficient in areas with more convective cloud cover, such as the Southeast US.
Recommended Citation
Kavanagh, Jolie, "Defining viable solar resource locations in the Southeast United States using the satellite-based GLASS product" (2022). Theses and Dissertations. 5546.
https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/td/5546
Included in
Applied Statistics Commons, Atmospheric Sciences Commons, Climate Commons, Meteorology Commons, Oil, Gas, and Energy Commons, Other Oceanography and Atmospheric Sciences and Meteorology Commons, Probability Commons