scholarly journals Satellite-based Cloudiness and Solar Energy Potential in Texas and Surrounding Regions

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 1130 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Xia ◽  
Alberto M. Mestas-Nuñez ◽  
Hongjie Xie ◽  
Rolando Vega
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
San Antonio ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Electrical Grid ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
Energy Mapping ◽  
Maximum Minimum ◽  
Good Agreement

Global horizontal irradiance (i.e., shortwave downward solar radiation received by a horizontal surface on the ground) is an important geophysical variable for climate and energy research. Since solar radiation is attenuated by clouds, its variability is intimately associated with the variability of cloud properties. The spatial distribution of clouds and the daily, monthly, seasonal, and annual solar energy potential (i.e., the solar energy available to be converted into electricity) derived from satellite estimates of global horizontal irradiance are explored over the state of Texas, USA and surrounding regions, including northern Mexico and the western Gulf of Mexico. The maximum (minimum) monthly solar energy potential in the study area is 151–247 kWhm−2 (43–145 kWhm−2) in July (December). The maximum (minimum) seasonal solar energy potential is 457–706 kWhm−2 (167–481 kWhm−2) in summer (winter). The available annual solar energy in 2015 was 1295–2324 kWhm−2. The solar energy potential is significantly higher over the Gulf of Mexico than over land despite the ocean waters having typically more cloudy skies. Cirrus is the dominant cloud type over the Gulf which attenuates less solar irradiance compared to other cloud types. As expected from our previous work, there is good agreement between satellite and ground estimates of solar energy potential in San Antonio, Texas, and we assume this agreement applies to the surrounding larger region discussed in this paper. The study underscores the relevance of geostationary satellites for cloud/solar energy mapping and provides useful estimates on solar energy in Texas and surrounding regions that could potentially be harnessed and incorporated into the electrical grid.

Solar energy potential in the coastal zone of the Gulf of Mexico

2015 ◽  
Vol 81 ◽  
pp. 534-542 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eunice Villicaña-Ortiz ◽  
Antonio J. Gutiérrez-Trashorras ◽  
José Pablo Paredes-Sánchez ◽  
Jorge Xiberta-Bernat
Keyword(s):  
Solar Energy ◽  
Gulf Of Mexico ◽  
Coastal Zone ◽  
Energy Potential

Preliminary results on the determination of solar energy potential using LiDAR technology

2015 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
pp. 11-17 ◽  
Author(s):  
G. Szabó ◽  
P. Enyedi ◽  
Gy. Szabó ◽  
I. Fazekas ◽  
T. Buday ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Energy Production ◽  
Alternative Energy ◽  
Surface Model ◽  
Solar Panels ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Potential Surfaces ◽  
Large Power ◽  
Automatic Data

According to the challenge of the reduction of greenhouse gases, the structure of energy production should be revised and the increase of the ratio of alternative energy sources can be a possible solution. Redistribution of the energy production to the private houses is an alternative of large power stations at least in a partial manner. Especially, the utilization of solar energy represents a real possibility to exploit the natural resources in a sustainable way. In this study we attempted to survey the roofs of the buildings with an automatic method as the potential surfaces of placing solar panels. A LiDAR survey was carried out with 12 points/m2 density as the most up-to-date method of surveys and automatic data collection techniques. Our primary goal was to extract the buildings with special regard to the roofs in a 1 km2 study area, in Debrecen. The 3D point cloud generated by the LiDAR was processed with MicroStation TerraScan software, using semi-automatic algorithms. Slopes, aspects and annual solar radiation income of roof planes were determined in ArcGIS10 environment from the digital surface model. Results showed that, generally, the outcome can be regarded as a roof cadaster of the buildings with correct geometry. Calculated solar radiation values revealed those roof planes where the investment for photovoltaic solar panels can be feasible.

scholarly journals Characterizing Variability of Solar Irradiance in San Antonio, Texas Using Satellite Observations of Cloudiness

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (12) ◽  
pp. 2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuang Xia ◽  
Alberto Mestas-Nuñez ◽  
Hongjie Xie ◽  
Jiakui Tang ◽  
Rolando Vega
Keyword(s):  
Temporal Variability ◽  
Solar Irradiance ◽  
San Antonio ◽  
Sampling Interval ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Ice Clouds ◽  
Similar Frequency ◽  
Temporal Sampling ◽  
Cloud Properties ◽  
High Layer

Since the main attenuation of solar irradiance reaching the earth’s surface is due to clouds, it has been hypothesized that global horizontal irradiance attenuation and its temporal variability at a given location could be characterized simply by cloud properties at that location. This hypothesis is tested using global horizontal irradiance measurements at two stations in San Antonio, Texas, and satellite estimates of cloud types and cloud layers from the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite (GOES) Surface and Insolation Product. A modified version of an existing solar attenuation variability index, albeit having a better physical foundation, is used. The analysis is conducted for different cloud conditions and solar elevations. It is found that under cloudy-sky conditions, there is less attenuation under water clouds than those under opaque ice clouds (optically thick ice clouds) and multilayered clouds. For cloud layers, less attenuation was found for the low/mid layers than for the high layer. Cloud enhancement occurs more frequently for water clouds and less frequently for mixed phase and cirrus clouds and it occurs with similar frequency at all three levels. The temporal variability of solar attenuation is found to decrease with an increasing temporal sampling interval and to be largest for water clouds and smallest for multilayered and partly cloudy conditions. This work presents a first step towards estimating solar energy potential in the San Antonio area indirectly using available estimates of cloudiness from GOES satellites.

scholarly journals Solar Energy Potential Assessment in the Algerian South Area: Case of Ghardaïa Region

2013 ◽  
Vol 2013 ◽  
pp. 1-11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kacem Gairaa ◽  
Yahia Bakelli
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Energy Applications ◽  
Energy Technologies ◽  
Natural Energy ◽  
Clean Environment ◽  
Promising Solution ◽  
Hourly Distribution ◽  
Sky Conditions

Due to its geographical position in the solar belt, Algeria is blessed with an abundance of solar energy and has the opportunity to utilize this bounty of natural energy effectively, promoting a clean environment and developing renewable energy technologies in the region. This paper assesses and analyses the solar energy potential in Ghardaïa area (south Algeria) to help users for solar energy applications. A database of solar radiation components has been employed for this purpose. The data presented in the paper are compared with other data supplied by renowned regional and international establishments, such as the solar atlas for the Mediterranean and the NASA. The frequency and the hourly distribution of solar radiation components indicate that the region is considered as an economical area and favorable for solar applications, such as the photovoltaic and the concentrating solar power (CSP) technologies. In addition to solar radiation, data of two functions, namely, clearness index and sunshine fraction have been examined; their results specify that the site has a clear sky conditions in most time of the year. In general, the obtained results illustrate that the site under consideration can use solar energy as a promising solution to conventional energy.

scholarly journals Solar Energy Potential in Turkey

2005 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
pp. 61-69 ◽  
Author(s):  
Havva Balat
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Geographical Location ◽  
Clean Energy ◽  
Energy Resources ◽  
Solar Thermal ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Yearly Average ◽  
Solar Thermal Applications

In this study, the solar energy potential of Turkey was investigated. Among the alternative clean energy resources in Turkey, the most important one is solar energy. Turkey's solar energy potential has been estimated to be 26.4 million toe as thermal and 8.8 million toe as electricity. Generally, solar energy is used for heating and the consumption of solar energy has increased from 5 ktoe in 1986 to 335 ktoe in 2003. Turkey's geographical location is highly favourable for utilization of solar energy. The yearly average solar radiation is 3.6 kWh/(m2 day) and the total yearly insulation period is approximately 2460 hours, which is sufficient to provide adequate energy for solar thermal applications.

scholarly journals ANALYSIS OF THE ENERGY POTENTIAL OF SOLAR LIGHT OF THE WESTERN REGION OF UKRAINE WITH THE ACCOUNT OF CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

2017 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 25-32 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vladimir Andreychuk ◽  
Yaroslav Filyuk
Keyword(s):  
Energy Density ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Flux Density ◽  
Average Density ◽  
Electrical Circuit ◽  
Climatic Conditions ◽  
Western Region ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
The Western Region

An experimental facility for measuring and recording the flux density of solar radiation is designed and installed. An electrical circuit is developed and a pyranometer model is developed to measure the level of solar radiation, and it is graduated with a Soler Power Meter DT-1307 solar radiation flux meter. The time distribution of the flux density of solar energy is analyzed and the surface energy density of solar radiation is calculated for Ternopil. The influence of climatic conditions on the energy of solar radiation is determined. Analytical dependencies are obtained on the basis of comparison of the measured values of the flux density of solar radiation and the cloud cover taken from meteorological services. The energy potential of solar radiation during 2012-2015 in the western region of Ukraine is calculated, as well as the average monthly and average annual energy density of solar radiation. It is determined that the annual average density of the solar energy flux is 1045.9 kW∙h/m2, and its deviation does not exceed 5%. It is shown that the most favorable months for the use of solar energy are from March to September of each year.

scholarly journals Spatio-Temporal Analysis of Solar Energy Potential for Domestic and Agricultural Utilization to Diminish Poverty in Jubek State, South Sudan, Africa

Energies ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (6) ◽  
pp. 1399
Author(s):  
Adam Juma Abdallah Gudo ◽  
Marye Belete ◽  
Ghali Abdullahi Abubakar ◽  
Jinsong Deng
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
South Sudan ◽  
Temporal Analysis ◽  
Distribution Analysis ◽  
Remotely Sensed Data ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Solar Radiation Intensity ◽  
Spatio Temporal

The study aimed to generate informative data on solar radiation in order to establish sustainable solar energy that will support domestic needs and agricultural production and processing industries in Jubek State, South Sudan. Solar radiation intensity, timely data variation, site landscape, and environment were considered. Input data used was remotely sensed data, digital elevation model, land used land cover (LULC) processed with Aeronautical Reconnaissance Coverage Geographic Information System (ArcGIS). The spatio-temporal distribution analysis results show that (62%) 11,356.7 km2 of the study area is suitable for solar energy farm with an annual potential of about 6.05 × 109 GWh/year out of which only 69.0158 GW h/year is required to meet the local demand of 492,970 people residing in the study area, i.e., 0.11% (1249.2 km2) of Jubek State. Solar energy required for producing and processing 1 ton of different crop ranges between 58.39 × 10−6 and 1477.9 × 10−6 GWh and area size between 10.7 and 306.3 km2, whereas 1 ton of animal production requires solar energy ranging between 750.1 × 10−6 and 8334 × 10−6 GWh and area of about 137.8 to 1531.5 km2. These findings will assist in the establishment of agro-processing industries which will eventually lead to poverty reduction through job creation and improvement of food quantity and quality. The simple approach applied in this study is unique, especially for the study area, thus it can be applied to some other locations following the same steps.

Geospatial modeling of solar radiation to explore solar energy potential in Papua New Guinea

2016 ◽  
Vol 24 (5) ◽  
pp. 531-544 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sailesh Samanta ◽  
Dilip Kumar Pal ◽  
Sammy Samun Aiau ◽  
Babita Palsamanta
Keyword(s):  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Papua New Guinea ◽  
New Guinea ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Geospatial Modeling

scholarly journals Solar radiation map of Jordan governorates

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1664 ◽  
Author(s):  
Saad S. Alrwashdeh ◽  
Falah M. Alsaraireh ◽  
Mohammad A. Saraireh
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Solar Radiation ◽  
Solar Energy ◽  
Significant Role ◽  
Electricity Demand ◽  
Energy Potential ◽  
Solar Energy Application ◽  
The World ◽  
Energy Application ◽  
Infor Mation

The solar energy potential in Jordan is enormous as it lies within the solar belt of the world with average solar radiation between 4 and 8 KWh/m2, which implies a potential of 1400-2300 GWh per year annually. Electricity demand in Jordan plays a significant role in the high amount of energy consumption to cover the needs of heating, cooling, lighting, etc. For that, the availability of the solar radiation infor-mation becomes essential to help in the design and building of the solar energy application. In this study, a solar radiation map is provided of all Jordan governorates. 

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