Development of exergy maps as a tool for assessing solar energy potential in Iraq

Abstract

This work aims to develop three sets of maps: solar intensity, solar exergy, and the exergy efficiency of the solar and PV systems for Iraqi cities. Petela mode equations were programmed depending on the Iraqi weather data and solved using the Engineering Equation Solver software. It is found that the western regions of Iraq, which are often desert lands, suffer from the low intensity of solar radiation due to the dusty weather that characterises this region. The solar exergy is 70 W/m2 to 138 W/m2 in January, and the range in July is 260 W/m2 to 330 W/m2. The higher average exergy efficiency ranges from 15% to 19.3% in the winter, while the lower is 7.5% to 13.8% in the summer. Finally, the sites at lower latitudes have more global solar radiation. On the other hand, higher latitudes have more exergy efficiency than those at lower latitudes.