Maximizing Solar Power: Finding the Best Locations for Solar Panels in New Mexico

Our project will use supercomputing and Python to figure out where solar panels should be placed to produce the most energy in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. Since our state receives plenty of sunlight, finding the best locations could improve renewable energy production. We will create a computational model that compares different conditions affecting solar energy. Based on our interview with a scientist, we will start with one variable while keeping the solar panel size fixed. Once our model works, we will add variables such as panel angle, weather conditions, daily sunlight, and distance from transmission lines. This will help us understand how each factor affects energy production, 

We will use reliable solar energy databases and research to collect information. Python libraries like Pandas and NumPy will help organize and analyze data, while Matplotlib will create graphs and tables comparing results. Over seven months, we will gradually improve our model, test different variables, and analyze our findings. Our goal is to identify conditions that maximize solar energy and demonstrate how computational modeling can help New Mexico make better decisions about solar farm locations.