Variability of electricity production from photovoltaic installations against the background of solar radiation in the Kraków-Częstochowa Upland
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AGH University of Krakow, Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental Management and Protection
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Stanisław Krzysztof Lach
AGH University of Krakow, Faculty of Geo-Data Science, Geodesy, and Environmental Engineering, Department of Environmental Management and Protection
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The aim of the study was to determine the variability of electricity production from PV installations and to determine its relationship with solar parameters. The analysis was performed on the basis of data from PV installations in Bębło, Kraków County. The level of sunshine, solar radiation, and UV index were obtained from measurements at two local weather stations (Bębło and Bolechowice). The data were compiled and approximated for the years 2021-2024. Linear trend equations were determined along with the R2 determination coefficients. The average value of daily energy production for 4 years was 7.17 kWh. The day of the year with the highest average energy production over the 4 years was 10 May. Zero electricity production was also recorded during periods of complete snow cover on the panels. There was a linear correlation between the amount of solar radiation and the UV index, with a coefficient of determination of 0.99. There was also a high level of correlation between the amount of energy production and these parameters. The total duration of the monthly sunshine was averaged at 55.1 hours. The month with the lowest insolation was December 2022 and the highest was May 2024. The highest daily values of solar radiation and UV index, as a 4-year average, were recorded in May and June. Only in these months did the UV index exceed the monthly average of 2.0, which already indicated an average level of UV radiation risk to human health. The results of the study allow this information to be estimated from photovoltaic data, which is already widely available, and PV installations in most cases accurately record their parameters.