A Linear Regression Model for Global Solar Radiation on Horizontal Surfaces at Warri, Nigeria

*Michael S. Okundamiya -  Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ambrose Alli University, P. M. B. 14, Ekpoma-310006, Nigeria
Israel E. Okpamen -  Department of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Ambrose Alli University, P. M. B. 14, Ekpoma-310006, Nigeria
Published: 30 Oct 2013.
Open Access
Citation Format:
Article Info
Section: Original Research Article
Language: EN
Full Text:
In Vol 2, No 3 (2013): October 2013
Statistics: 580 488
Abstract

The growing anxiety on the negative effects of fossil fuels on the environment and the global emission reduction targets call for a more extensive use of renewable energy alternatives. Efficient solar energy utilization is an essential solution to the high atmospheric pollution caused by fossil fuel combustion. Global solar radiation (GSR) data, which are useful for the design and evaluation of solar energy conversion system, are not measured at the forty-five meteorological stations in Nigeria. The dearth of the measured solar radiation data calls for accurate estimation. This study proposed a temperature-based linear regression, for predicting the monthly average daily GSR on horizontal surfaces, at Warri (latitude 5.020N and longitude 7.880E) an oil city located in the south-south geopolitical zone, in Nigeria. The proposed model is analyzed based on five statistical indicators (coefficient of correlation, coefficient of determination, mean bias error, root mean square error, and t-statistic), and compared with the existing sunshine-based model for the same study. The results indicate that the proposed temperature-based linear regression model could replace the existing sunshine-based model for generating global solar radiation data.

Keywords: air temperature; empirical model; global solar radiation; regression analysis; renewable energy; Warri

Article Metrics:

  1. Almorox, J., Benito, M. & Hontoria, C. (2005) Estimation of monthly Angstrom-Prescott equation coefficients from measured daily data in Toledo, Spain, Renewable Energy, 30(6), 931–936.
  2. Augustine, C. & Nnabuchi, M. N. (2009) Correlation between Sunshine Hours and Global Solar Radiation in Warri, Nigeria, Pacific Journal of Science and Technology, 10(2), 574 – 579.
  3. Che, H. Z., Shi, G. Y., Zhang, X. Y., Zhao, J. Q., & Li, Y. (2007) Analysis of sky conditions using 40 year records of solar radiation data in China, Theoretical and Applied Climatology, 89(1-2), 83–94.
  4. Cristobal, J. R. S. (2011) A multi criteria data envelopment analysis model to evaluate the efficiency of the Renewable Energy technologies, Renewable Energy, 36(10), 2742-2746.
  5. Falayi, E. O., Adepitan, J. O. & Rabiu, A. B. (2008) Empirical models for the correlation of global solar radiation with meteorological data for Iseyin, Nigeria, International Journal of Physical Sciences, 3(9), 210–216.
  6. Falayi, E. O. & Rabiu, A. B. (2005) Modelling global solar radiation using sunshine duration data, Nigeria Journal of Physics, 17S, 181-186.
  7. IPCC (2007) Climate Change 2007: Impacts, adaptation and vulnerability, contribution of Working Group II to the Fourth Assessment Report of the IPCC; Parry M. L., Canziani O. F., Palutikof J. P., van der Linden P. J., Hanson C. E., (eds.) Cambridge, United Kingdom and New York, USA: Cambridge University Press. pp. 976
  8. Kamman, C. (2001) Impact of rising atmospheric CO2 concentrations on the fluxes of the greenhouse gases N2O and CH4 in a grassland ecosystem. Thesis Giessen, Germany: University of Giessen. pp. 228.
  9. NASA (2011) Surface Meteorology and Solar Energy Data and Information, http://eosweb.larc.nasa.gov/sse (Accessed on: March, 2011).
  10. NIMA (2011) Archives of Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NIMA), Oshodi, Lagos State, Nigeria.
  11. Obi, C. (2009) Nigeria’s Niger Delta: Understanding the complex drivers of violent oil-related conflict Africa development, Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa, CODESRIA, 34(2), 103–128.
  12. Okundamiya, M.S. & Nzeako, A. N. (2010) Empirical model for estimating global solar radiation on horizontal surfaces for selected cities in the six geopolitical zones in Nigeria, Research Journal of Applied Science, Engineering and Technology, 2(8), 805–812.
  13. Okundamiya, M.S. & Nzeako, A.N. (2011) Estimation of diffuse solar radiation for selected cities in Nigeria, ISRN Renewable Energy, vol. 2011, Article ID 439410, 6 pages, Doi: 10.5402/2011/439410.
  14. Stone, R.J. (1993) Improving statistical procedure for evaluation of solar – radiation estimation model, Solar Energy, 51, 289–291.
  15. Ulgen, K & Hepbasli, A. (2002) Estimation of solar radiation parameters for Izmir, Turkey, International Journal of Energy Research, 26, 807-823.

The Authors submitting a manuscript do so on the understanding that if accepted for publication, copyright of the article shall be assigned to International Journal of Renewable Energy Development and Center of Biomass and Renewable Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering Diponegoro University as publisher of the journal.

Copyright encompasses exclusive rights to reproduce and deliver the article in all form and media, including reprints, photographs, microfilms and any other similar reproductions, as well as translations. The reproduction of any part of this journal, its storage in databases and its transmission by any form or media, such as electronic, electrostatic and mechanical copies, photocopies, recordings, magnetic media, etc. , will be allowed only with a written permission from International Journal of Renewable Energy Development and Center of Biomass and Renewable Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering Diponegoro University.

International Journal of Renewable Energy Development and Center of Biomass and Renewable Energy, Department of Chemical Engineering Diponegoro University, the Editors and the Advisory International Editorial Board make every effort to ensure that no wrong or misleading data, opinions or statements be published in the journal. In any way, the contents of the articles and advertisements published in the International Journal of Renewable Energy Development are sole and exclusive responsibility of their respective authors and advertisers.