Solar resources and power potential mapping in Vietnam using satellite-derived and GIS-based information

•Satellite-based, reanalysis data and measurements are combined for solar mapping.•Plant output modeling for PV and CSP results in simple expressions of solar potential.•Solar resource, solar potential are used in a GIS for determine technical solar potential.•Solar resource and potential maps of Vietnam are presented.

The present paper presents maps of the solar resources in Vietnam and of the solar potential for concentrating solar power (CSP) and for grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) technology. The mapping of solar radiation components has been calculated from satellite-derived data combined with solar radiation derived from sunshine duration and other additional sources of information based on reanalysis for several atmospheric and meteorological parameters involved. Two scenarios have been selected for the study of the solar potential: CSP Parabolic Trough of 50 MWe and grid-connected Flat Plate PV plant of around 1 MWe. For each selected scenario plant performance simulations have been computed for developing simple expressions that allow the estimation of the solar potential from the annual solar irradiation and the latitude of every site in Vietnam. Finally, Geographic Information Systems (GIS) have been used for combining the solar potential with the land availability according each scenario to deliver the technical solar potential maps of Vietnam.