Solar Energy Resources and Photovoltaic Power Potential of an Underutilised Region: A Case of Alice, South Africa

Ochuko Kelvin Overen and Edson Leroy Meyer
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Ochuko Kelvin Overen: Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape, South Africa
Edson Leroy Meyer: Fort Hare Institute of Technology, University of Fort Hare, Private Bag X1314, Alice 5700, Eastern Cape, South Africa

Energies, 2022, vol. 15, issue 13, 1-29

Abstract: Despite South Africa’s international recognition in solar energy investments, the country is struggling to meet its growing energy needs. In recent years, national blackouts and load shedding have been a recurring experience in the country. The high cost of electrification and the overstrained national grid have left several rural communities without access to electricity. This study aims to explore the solar energy resources and performance of a 3.8 kWp stand-alone residential photovoltaic (PV) power system in one of the underutilised regions in South Africa. The study mainly uses ground measured solar radiation data to evaluate the solar resources of Alice and compare them with those in other parts of the world with mega solar PV projects. The components of solar radiation considered are global horizontal irradiance (GHI), direct normal irradiance (DNI), and diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI). The average total daily GHI, DNI, and DHI of Alice were 4.98, 5.74, and 1.44 kWh/m 2 . Clear sky conditions were found to occur on 233 days in the monitoring year, resulting in an average total daily GHI of 6.13 kWh/m 2 , DNI of 6.73 kWh/m 2 and DHI of 0.17 kWh/m 2 . The findings indicated that Alice possesses abundant solar resources for PV and concentrated solar power generation, and is comparable to other regions internationally.

Keywords: sustainable rural electrification; energy access; solar photovoltaics; stand-alone solar photovoltaic systems; solar energy resources (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2022
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