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Monthly, Seasonal and Yearly Assessments of Global Solar Radiation, Clearness Index and Diffuse Fractions in Alice, South Africa

Author

Listed:
  • Oliver O. Apeh

    (Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa)

  • Ochuko K. Overen

    (Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa)

  • Edson L. Meyer

    (Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Alice 5700, South Africa)

Abstract

The constant scheduled load shedding in South Africa has commonly been executed in an attempt to maintain the long aging coal power plants in the country. With the rise in the reduction of fossil fuels, efforts to eradicate environmental hazards of carbon through solar photovoltaic (PV) resources to their complete prospect are in progress. South Africa, and in particular the town Alice, acquires sunshine annually, making it appropriate to harvest solar energy. This work aims to characterize solar radiation, clearness index (Kt), and diffuse fraction (Kd) in Alice, South Africa. Hourly global and diffuse solar irradiance were estimated into monthly, seasonal, and yearly variations of Kt and Kd for the years 2017–2020. The range of values for describing the daily classification of sky condition was centered on earlier studies. The cumulative frequency and frequency distribution of daily Kt was analyzed statistically in an individual month. The analyses show that the average percentage frequency of Kt within the period is 11.72% of the cloudy days, 57% of partially cloudy days, and 31.28% of clear sky days. The findings of this research show that Alice remains a key contender for solar energy conversion location, owing to its reasonably high frequency (Kt > 0.40) of clear and partially cloudy skies. Hence, it is essential to establish energy-efficiency for energy consumption and also for daily performances.

Suggested Citation

  • Oliver O. Apeh & Ochuko K. Overen & Edson L. Meyer, 2021. "Monthly, Seasonal and Yearly Assessments of Global Solar Radiation, Clearness Index and Diffuse Fractions in Alice, South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-15, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:13:y:2021:i:4:p:2135-:d:500822
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Saioa Etxebarria Berrizbeitia & Eulalia Jadraque Gago & Tariq Muneer, 2020. "Empirical Models for the Estimation of Solar Sky-Diffuse Radiation. A Review and Experimental Analysis," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(3), pages 1-23, February.
    2. Seyed Abbas Mousavi Maleki & H. Hizam & Chandima Gomes, 2017. "Estimation of Hourly, Daily and Monthly Global Solar Radiation on Inclined Surfaces: Models Re-Visited," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-28, January.
    3. Boland, John & Huang, Jing & Ridley, Barbara, 2013. "Decomposing global solar radiation into its direct and diffuse components," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 28(C), pages 749-756.
    4. Fluri, Thomas P., 2009. "The potential of concentrating solar power in South Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 37(12), pages 5075-5080, December.
    5. Ghazi, Sanaz & Ip, Kenneth, 2014. "The effect of weather conditions on the efficiency of PV panels in the southeast of UK," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 50-59.
    6. Alonso-Montesinos, J. & Batlles, F.J., 2015. "Solar radiation forecasting in the short- and medium-term under all sky conditions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C), pages 387-393.
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    Cited by:

    1. Oliver O. Apeh & Edson L. Meyer & Ochuko K. Overen, 2022. "Contributions of Solar Photovoltaic Systems to Environmental and Socioeconomic Aspects of National Development—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(16), pages 1-28, August.
    2. Tosin Waidi Olofin & Omowunmi Mary Longe & Tien-Chien Jen, 2023. "Analysis of Performance Yield Parameters for Selected Polycrystalline Solar Panel Brands in South Africa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-18, March.
    3. Ali Saleh Aziz & Mohammad Faridun Naim Tajuddin & Tekai Eddine Khalil Zidane & Chun-Lien Su & Abdullahi Abubakar Mas’ud & Mohammed J. Alwazzan & Ali Jawad Kadhim Alrubaie, 2022. "Design and Optimization of a Grid-Connected Solar Energy System: Study in Iraq," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-29, July.
    4. Ochuko Kelvin Overen & Edson Leroy Meyer, 2022. "Solar Energy Resources and Photovoltaic Power Potential of an Underutilised Region: A Case of Alice, South Africa," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-29, June.
    5. Thi Thu Em Vo & Seung-Mo Je & Se-Hoon Jung & Jaehyeon Choi & Jun-Ho Huh & Han-Jong Ko, 2022. "Review of Photovoltaic Power and Aquaculture in Desert," Energies, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-18, April.

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