Abstract:

This study investigates the impact of atmospheric clouds on surface solar radiation and the performance of photovoltaic (PV) panels in Asian countries. Clouds significantly reduce solar radiation and lower solar energy production efficiency. Data from MODIS satellite remote sensing and the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) were used to analyze changes in total cloud cover (TCC), low cloud cover (LCC), mid-level cloud cover (MCC), high cloud cover (HCC), global horizontal irradiance (GHI), and direct normal irradiance (DNI) from 2016 to 2024 in Asian regions. Results show a significant increase in total cloud cover in Pakistan (from 0.14 to 0.88), Aksai Chin (from 0.24 to 0.88), and Jammu and Kashmir (from 0.36 to 0.94), which reduced GHI and DNI. Low cloud cover increased in Aksai Chin (0.36) and Taiwan (0.33). Mid-level cloud cover rose in Aksai Chin (0.40) but decreased in Macau and Hong Kong. High cloud cover increased in Jammu and Kashmir (0.72) and Pakistan (0.67) but sharply declined in the Kuril Islands. These changes, driven by increased atmospheric humidity and climate patterns, blocked direct radiation and reduced solar panel efficiency by 30–50%.