Insights

Smarter Solar Farm Design: Optimizing Layouts for Maximum Yield

Engineering, Insights, Middle East, Photovoltaics
Figure 1: LCOE minimisation analysis of a solar plant using GCR and DC/AC ratio variables.

As a contribution to the MESIA Solar Outlook Report 2026, this article written by Pedro Arteche, Senior Engineer and Technical Office Manager, explores how desert conditions—extreme heat, high irradiance and dust—demand specialized engineering decisions and solid field validation.

It explains how the vast land availability in desert regions shifts the design approach toward identifying configurations that maximize long‑term profitability. Key parameters such as GCR, tilt angle and DC/AC ratio are evaluated through a techno‑economic lens that balances production gains with cost implications.

The article also outlines how multi‑scenario modelling, integrating layout options, CAPEX considerations and long‑term energy simulations, supports the selection of configurations that minimized LCOE while ensuring reliable, long‑term performance.

Click to download the full MESIA’s Solar Outlook Report 2026