Conference article

Solar Energy Measurement on the South African East Coast

E. Zawilska
Department of Mechanical Engineering, Mangosuthu University of Technology, Durban, South Africa

M. J. Brooks
Sustainable Energy Research Group, School of Mechanical Engineering, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa

Download articlehttp://dx.doi.org/10.3384/ecp110573686

Published in: World Renewable Energy Congress - Sweden; 8-13 May; 2011; Linköping; Sweden

Linköping Electronic Conference Proceedings 57:3, p. 3686-3693

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Published: 2011-11-03

ISBN: 978-91-7393-070-3

ISSN: 1650-3686 (print), 1650-3740 (online)

Abstract

This study presents the record and analysis of solar radiometry and selected meteorological parameters for Durban; South Africa over a full one-year period from January to December 2007. The results comprise of the key components essential in an assessment of the solar energy resource including global horizontal irradiance; global irradiance on a north-pointing tilted plane at 30° latitude angle; direct normal irradiance and diffuse horizontal irradiance. In addition; the ambient air temperature; humidity and rainfall records are presented and discussed. Selected solar radiometry variables obtained from the STARlab study were compared with data available from various sources including the HelioClim dataset; the NASA SSE database and the literature. The ongoing aim of this study is to build a reliable record of the solar resource for planning; engineering design and effective operation of solar energy systems and applications.

Keywords

Solar energy potential; Radiometry data; Meteorological data; Renewable energy

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