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Geospatial Analysis of Solar Energy Potentials in Niger State, Nigeria

Received: 8 December 2022    Accepted: 26 December 2022    Published: 10 January 2023
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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.

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), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Solar Radiation, Solar Energy Potentials, Geospatial Methods, DEM, AHP

References
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Cite This Article
  • 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

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    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

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    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

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  • @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}
    }
    

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  • 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  - 

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Author Information
  • National Space Research and Development Agency, Abuja, Nigeria

  • Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

  • Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

  • Department of Physics, Federal University of Technology, Minna, Nigeria

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