Satellite-derived solar resource maps for Myanmar

Serm Janjai, Itsara Masiri and Jarungsaeng Laksanaboonsong

Renewable Energy, 2013, vol. 53, issue C, 132-140

Abstract: Solar resource maps for use in solar energy applications have been produced for Myanmar. A satellite-based solar radiation model, originally developed for the tropics, was improved and applied for the region. A 13-year period (1998–2010) of imagery data from GMS 5, GOES 9 and MTSAT-1R satellites was used as the main input in the model. The absorption and scattering of solar radiation by various atmospheric constituents was also taken into account. The absorption of solar radiation due to water vapour was estimated from precipitable water database obtained from the National Center for Environmental Protection (NCEP), USA. The total column ozone obtained from TOMS/EP and OMI/AURA satellites were used to calculate solar radiation absorption by ozone. The visibility data observed at meteorological stations in Myanmar and neighbouring countries were employed to estimate solar radiation depletion due to aerosols. In order to validate the model, five pyranometer stations were established in different regions of Myanmar and a two-year period of data from these stations were used for the model validation. Additionally, global solar radiation measured at 10 stations in a neighbouring country was also employed for the validation. It was found that monthly average global radiation obtained from the measurements and that estimated from the model was in good agreement, with a root mean square difference of 9.6% at monthly scale. After the validation, the model was used to estimate monthly average global radiation over Myanmar and the results were presented as solar resource maps. The maps revealed that geographical distribution of solar radiation was strongly influenced by the topography of the country and the tropical monsoons.

Keywords: Solar radiation; Mapping; Satellite data; Myanmar (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2013
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Citations: View citations in EconPapers (7)

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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:eee:renene:v:53:y:2013:i:c:p:132-140

DOI: 10.1016/j.renene.2012.11.014

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