Modelling the Impact of Atmospheric and Near-Surface Aerosols on Solar PV Performance in Ghana in Sub-Saharan Africa Using Reanalysis Data

Solar power is emerging as a highly promising renewable energy resource for electricity generation in West Africa. However, the performance and efficiency of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems in the region are greatly influenced by atmospheric and near-surface aerosols. Although ground-based infrastructure for data collection and monitoring is reliable for studying the impact of aerosols on PV yield performance, their presence across West Africa is sparse and limited in the subregion, and it often suffers from limitations in spatial coverage, temporal resolution, and data consistency. To address these issues and enhance the precision and reliability of PV yield performance assessments and modelling, Benjamin Anim proposes an integrated approach that leverages aerosol reanalysis data, solar PV models, and radiative transfer models to study the impact of atmospheric and near-surface aerosols on PV yield performance in the subregion.