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Köppen-Geiger-Photovoltaic climate classification

The Köppen-Geiger-Photovoltaic climate classification (KGPV) is a way of classifying different climates based on parameters relevant for photovoltaic systems [1]. It divides Earth into 12 zones with regard to temperature, precipitation, and irradiation. The zones are composed of two classification levels: 5 Temperature-Precipitation (TP-) zones and 4 Irradiation (I-) zones.

Zone definition

Temperature-Precipitation (TP-) zones are defined as:

  • A – Tropical
  • B – Desert
  • C – Steppe
  • D – Temperate
  • E – Cold
  • F – Polar

Irradiation (I-) zones are defined as:

  • L – Low
  • M – Medium
  • H – High
  • K – Very High

The limits between the I-zones correspond to the 30th, 50th, and 80th irradiation percentiles: 1130, 1560, and 2070 kWh/m², respectively.

The combination of these 2 levels should lead to 24 climate zones. However, the model was further simplified by merging zones with low population density and/or low land surface area to keep only 12 zones. The zone-merging process is described in the table below (from [1]).

KGPV-table

KGPV map

The 12 KGPV zones retained are shown on the map below.

KGPV-map
Fig. Köppen-Geiger-Photovoltaic climate classification with the 12 most relevant climate zones (Antarctica excluded), taken from [1].

[1] J. Ascencio-Vásquez, K. Brecl, and M. Topič, “Methodology of Köppen-Geiger-Photovoltaic climate classification and implications to worldwide mapping of PV system performance,” Sol. Energy, vol. 191, no. May, pp. 672–685, 2019, doi: 10.1016/j.solener.2019.08.072.
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0038092X19308527