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Conversion of solar irradiance determined by satellite images to electrical energy using photovoltaic technology (a case study of northeastern state (NES) of Nigeria)

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Abstract

This study determined solar irradiance by satellite images and converted it into electrical power using different type’s photovoltaic technology. The process was done using the Aeronautical reconnaissance coverage geographical information system (ArcGIS). The mean annual global solar irradiance were calculated for the entire NES, while ArcGIS weighting overlay was used to determine the suitability area for the conversion. According to the study, Yobe received the higher global solar irradiance with an annual mean value of 2264.69 kWh/m2/year, followed by Borno 2244.94 Kwh/m2/year, Bauchi 2208.52 Kwh/m2/year, Gombe 2167.03 Kwh/m2/year Adamawa 2154.93 Kwh/m2/year, while Taraba has the least amount of global solar irradiance of 2017.96 kWh/m2/year. The suitable areas for Adamawa, Bauchi, Borno, Gombe, Taraba, and Yobe are as follows: 12,042.2, 17,069.1, 39,426.3, and 6755.99 Km2, 4924.82, and 23,215.5 Km2, respectively. And the electrical energy determined for different types of photovoltaic technology, i.e., Single-crystalline-silicon, Multi-crystalline-silicon, Amorphous-Silicon and Cadmium-Telluride for Adamawa, 194.3 MW, 179.8, 77.73 MW and 140.7 MW, Bauchi 306.4, 283.4, 122.6 and 222.1 MW Borno1101, 1019, 440.5 and 798.5 MW Gombe, 132.2, 122.3, 52.90 and 95.87 MW, Taraba 19.06, 17.63, 7.623 and 13.83 MW, Yobe 623.0, 576.3, 294.2 and 451.7 MW, respectively. It has been concluded that northeast states are blessed with abundant solar irradiance, which is suitable for installing a photovoltaic station, and single crystalline silicon is the best photovoltaic technology.

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Abbreviations

NES:

Northeast states

L :

Spectral radiance measured over spectral bandwidth of a channel in Wm−2sr−1 μm−1

DN:

Digital number value recorded,

L max :

Radiance measured at detector saturation in Wm−2sr−1 μm−1,

L min :

Lowest radiance measured by detector in Wm−2sr−1 μm−1,

\(\emptyset\) :

Azimuth angle

\(\theta\) :

Polar angle

Ω :

Solid angle

sc-Si:

Single-crystalline Silicon

mc-Si:

Multi-crystalline Silicon

a-Si :

Amorphous Silicon

CdTe:

Cadmium-Telluride

PV:

Photovoltaic

\({\overline{\text{G}}} =\) :

The monthly mean global solar radiation on a horizontal surface (kWh/m2/day),

\({\text{G}}_{{\text{o}}}\) :

The monthly mean extra-terrestrial solar radiation on a horizontal surface (kWh/m2/day)

\({\overline{\text{S}}} =\) :

The monthly mean daily bright sunshine hours (Hours),

\({\text{S}}_{{\text{o}}}\) :

The maximum possible monthly mean daily sunshine hours (Hours), a and b are regression constants depending on on-site location

\(I_{{{\text{sc}}}}\) :

Is the solar constant (= 1367 Wm−2),

\(\emptyset\) :

The latitude of the site,

δ :

The solar declination

\(\omega_{s}\) :

The mean sunrise hour angle for the given month, and

n :

The number of days of the year starting from the first of January.

δ :

The solar declination

KWh/m2/year:

Kilo-Watt-hour per meter square per year

EP :

Electric power generation potential per year (kWh/year)

A R :

Annual solar radiation received per unit horizontal area (kWh/m2/year)

T A :

Calculated total area of suitable land (m2)

A F :

The area factor,

η :

PV system efficiency

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Physics, University of Maiduguri,, Maiduguri, Nigeria

    Mohammed K. Salihu

  2. Department of Pure and Applied Physic, Adamawa State University, Mubi, Nigeria

    Ali Danladi & D. W. Medugu

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  1. Mohammed K. Salihu
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  2. Ali Danladi
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  3. D. W. Medugu
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Salihu, M.K., Danladi, A. & Medugu, D.W. Conversion of solar irradiance determined by satellite images to electrical energy using photovoltaic technology (a case study of northeastern state (NES) of Nigeria). Int J Energy Environ Eng 14, 687–697 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40095-022-00543-z

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