Solar energy has been identified as the largest renewable resource on earth, and it is more evenly distributed in Sunbelt locations than wind or biomass use. In this paper, geospatial methods were used to examine solar energy potentials in Niger State Northcentral Nigeria. Observed insolation data from Nigeria meteorological station was used over the study period 1988–2018. A Digital Elevation Map (DEM) and solar radiation of the area were used as input parameters. Slope and slope aspect were calculated using the DEM. Slope, slope aspect, and solar radiations of the study area were reclassified and weighted using a Hierarchical Analytical Process (AHP). The variability analysis was done using a standardized variable index. It was observed that the months of February, March, and April were the highest with average solar radiation of 6kWh/m2/day, while July and August, on average, had the lowest solar radiation of 4.4kWh/m2/day. The results showed the areas with moderate solar energy potential; good solar energy potential and very good solar energy potential. It was revealed that the amount of available solar power in Niger is 414.651 X 106 MWh. The study has demonstrated the potential of geospatial technology in the analysis of solar energy potentials, making it suitable for the investigation of other renewable energies. The results also identified the enormous availability of solar energy potentials in the state as well as the most suitable site for solar energy farms.
Published in | American Journal of Modern Physics (Volume 11, Issue 6) |
DOI | 10.11648/j.ajmp.20221106.12 |
Page(s) | 95-100 |
Creative Commons |
This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited. |
Copyright |
Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group |
Solar Radiation, Solar Energy Potentials, Geospatial Methods, DEM, AHP
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APA Style
Bashir Musa Adavuruku, Ezenwora Joel Aghaegbunam, Igwe Kingsley Chidozie, Moses Abiodun Stephen. (2023). Geospatial Analysis of Solar Energy Potentials in Niger State, Nigeria. American Journal of Modern Physics, 11(6), 95-100. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmp.20221106.12
ACS Style
Bashir Musa Adavuruku; Ezenwora Joel Aghaegbunam; Igwe Kingsley Chidozie; Moses Abiodun Stephen. Geospatial Analysis of Solar Energy Potentials in Niger State, Nigeria. Am. J. Mod. Phys. 2023, 11(6), 95-100. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmp.20221106.12
AMA Style
Bashir Musa Adavuruku, Ezenwora Joel Aghaegbunam, Igwe Kingsley Chidozie, Moses Abiodun Stephen. Geospatial Analysis of Solar Energy Potentials in Niger State, Nigeria. Am J Mod Phys. 2023;11(6):95-100. doi: 10.11648/j.ajmp.20221106.12
@article{10.11648/j.ajmp.20221106.12, author = {Bashir Musa Adavuruku and Ezenwora Joel Aghaegbunam and Igwe Kingsley Chidozie and Moses Abiodun Stephen}, title = {Geospatial Analysis of Solar Energy Potentials in Niger State, Nigeria}, journal = {American Journal of Modern Physics}, volume = {11}, number = {6}, pages = {95-100}, doi = {10.11648/j.ajmp.20221106.12}, url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmp.20221106.12}, eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ajmp.20221106.12}, abstract = {Solar energy has been identified as the largest renewable resource on earth, and it is more evenly distributed in Sunbelt locations than wind or biomass use. In this paper, geospatial methods were used to examine solar energy potentials in Niger State Northcentral Nigeria. Observed insolation data from Nigeria meteorological station was used over the study period 1988–2018. A Digital Elevation Map (DEM) and solar radiation of the area were used as input parameters. Slope and slope aspect were calculated using the DEM. Slope, slope aspect, and solar radiations of the study area were reclassified and weighted using a Hierarchical Analytical Process (AHP). The variability analysis was done using a standardized variable index. It was observed that the months of February, March, and April were the highest with average solar radiation of 6kWh/m2/day, while July and August, on average, had the lowest solar radiation of 4.4kWh/m2/day. The results showed the areas with moderate solar energy potential; good solar energy potential and very good solar energy potential. It was revealed that the amount of available solar power in Niger is 414.651 X 106 MWh. The study has demonstrated the potential of geospatial technology in the analysis of solar energy potentials, making it suitable for the investigation of other renewable energies. The results also identified the enormous availability of solar energy potentials in the state as well as the most suitable site for solar energy farms.}, year = {2023} }
TY - JOUR T1 - Geospatial Analysis of Solar Energy Potentials in Niger State, Nigeria AU - Bashir Musa Adavuruku AU - Ezenwora Joel Aghaegbunam AU - Igwe Kingsley Chidozie AU - Moses Abiodun Stephen Y1 - 2023/01/10 PY - 2023 N1 - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmp.20221106.12 DO - 10.11648/j.ajmp.20221106.12 T2 - American Journal of Modern Physics JF - American Journal of Modern Physics JO - American Journal of Modern Physics SP - 95 EP - 100 PB - Science Publishing Group SN - 2326-8891 UR - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ajmp.20221106.12 AB - Solar energy has been identified as the largest renewable resource on earth, and it is more evenly distributed in Sunbelt locations than wind or biomass use. In this paper, geospatial methods were used to examine solar energy potentials in Niger State Northcentral Nigeria. Observed insolation data from Nigeria meteorological station was used over the study period 1988–2018. A Digital Elevation Map (DEM) and solar radiation of the area were used as input parameters. Slope and slope aspect were calculated using the DEM. Slope, slope aspect, and solar radiations of the study area were reclassified and weighted using a Hierarchical Analytical Process (AHP). The variability analysis was done using a standardized variable index. It was observed that the months of February, March, and April were the highest with average solar radiation of 6kWh/m2/day, while July and August, on average, had the lowest solar radiation of 4.4kWh/m2/day. The results showed the areas with moderate solar energy potential; good solar energy potential and very good solar energy potential. It was revealed that the amount of available solar power in Niger is 414.651 X 106 MWh. The study has demonstrated the potential of geospatial technology in the analysis of solar energy potentials, making it suitable for the investigation of other renewable energies. The results also identified the enormous availability of solar energy potentials in the state as well as the most suitable site for solar energy farms. VL - 11 IS - 6 ER -