GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF SOLAR ENERGY POTENTIALS IN PARTS OF NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA
GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS OF SOLAR ENERGY POTENTIALS IN PARTS OF NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA
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Date
2017-06
Authors
ISMA’IL, Muhammad
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Abstract
Northwestern Nigeria falls within the solar belt and therefore has enormous solar energy potentials. But, information on solar radiation which is a fundamental requirement for harnessing the solar energy in the region is inadequate. Recently, geospatial techniques have been used to analyse solar energy potentials in different parts of the world.This study attempted to use geospatial techniques to integrate ground-measured solar radiation data with satellite-derived solar radiation data to assess solar energy potentials in Kano, Kaduna and Katsina states of Northwestern Nigeria. Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) interpolation was used in order to map the ground-measured and the satellite solar radiation data. Scatter plots and visual analysis were employed to compare and contrast between ground-measured and satellite-derived solar radiation data in the study area. The ground-measured solar radiation data was merged with the satellite-derived solar radiation data to produce calibrated maps of solar radiation in the area. The calibration method was validated using the Mean Bias Error (MBE), Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE). Then, weighted overlay and analytic hierarchy process were used to determine the solar energy potential sites in the area.It was found that the solar radiation received in the area range from 4.47kWh/m2/day to 7.21kWh/m2/day based on the ground and the satellite data. Maximum insolation of averagely 7kWh/m2/day was observed in the months of March, April and May;while minimum insolationof averagely 4.5kWh/m2/day was observed in July, August, December and January, over the study area. However, spatial variations exist among the three states in terms of the pattern of solar radiation. A positive correlation between the ground and the satellite data was found in terms of the minimum and the maximum solar radiation in the area. The validation process of the merging method obtained average MBE values of -0.45%, RMSE of 0.46%, and
MAEof 0.57%. These values indicate a good performance of the merging method used in this study. In addition, findings revealed that the amount of exploitable solar power in Kano, Kaduna and Katsina states were 118.773 X 106 MWh, 234.870 X 106 MWh and 162.086 X 106 MWh respectively. Geospatial techniques should be used to produce a more comprehensive solar radiation atlas of Kano, Kaduna and Katsina states covering all the local government areas in the three states. Satellite and calibrated solar radiation data are two alternatives, which should be used to complement or evaluate ground measurement of solar radiation that can be used to analyse the solar energy potentials in an area. The optimum periods for harnessing solar energy in the area (March – May) should be used to harness and conserve solar power. Areas with very high solar energy potentials should be used in siting of utility scale solar farms and Concentrating Solar Power plants while Photovoltaic solar panels can be used in areas with moderate solar energy potentials.The information provided in this study can be used to diversify the energy supply mix in Nigeria in a bid to address the power problem in the country
Description
A DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO THE SCHOOL OF POSTGRADUATE STUDIES, AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY ZARIA IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE AWARD OF DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY DEGREE IN GEOGRAPHY DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY FACULTY OF PHYSICAL SCIENCES AHMADU BELLO UNIVERSITY, ZARIA
Keywords
GEOSPATIAL ANALYSIS,, SOLAR ENERGY POTENTIALS,, PARTS,, NORTHWESTERN NIGERIA