Journal Article

Assessment of the Global Solar Energy Potential in Ilorin, Kwara State. North Central Nigeria

Abstract

This paper assessed the solar energy potential of Ilorin, Kwara State Capital, North Central Nigeria, for a period of four years (2005-2008) using monthly average of maximum and minimum temperatures, solar radiation and latitude as obtained from the Nigeria Meteorological Agency (NIMET), Ilorin state office, and analysed. Ilorin the capital city of kwara state, Nigeria is located on latitude 9.70N and longitude 4.50E with an area of about 100 km2 . Procedure employed involved the use of HargreavesSamani’s equation as a method of estimating Global solar radiation using minimum climatological data. The values of the global solar radiation for the period under study varies from 14.04-22.42 MJm - 2 month - 1 in 2005, 14.00 - 22.20 MJm – 2 month - 1 in 2006, 16.20 - 22.58 MJm – 2 month - 1 in 2007, and 15.04 - 22.97 MJm – 2 month - 1 in 2008. These values suggest that there is potential in solar radiation reaching Ilorin. The result from this study conducted indicates that there exists a huge solar irradiation potential that can be used as a base line for any possible application of solar irradiation generation in Ilorin.

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