Modelling of Global Solar Radiation on Horizontal Surfaces for Mersin City

Abstract

Turkey is rich in solar energy potential due to its geographical location. Turkey's average annual sunshine duration is 2737 hours and the solar energy potential is 1527 kWh / m2 year. The major solar energy regionsare South Eastern Anatolia Region and the Mediterranean regions in Turkey. In this context, Mersin province is located in the provinces of maximum solar radiation in Turkey. Calculations of all the factors affecting the solar radiation from the atmosphere to the earth; creates a huge workload and the results cannot be obtained with sufficient accuracy.Therefore calculating the solar radiation coming to the earth models have been developed. In this study, the models for the prediction of solar radiation for Mersin city were evaluated using measured solar radiation data.Statistical aspects compliance of studied models were tested and validated which models the closest predicting to measured value. Introduction Energy is essential input of socio-economic prosperity and forward-looking development of today's technology. Therefore, region and country based energy policies and alternative strategies are developing in order to provide adequate, reliable and least damaging to the environment. This matter has a different position and property in Turkey. Turkey is dependent on importation for energy at a rate exceeding 70%. This rate is increasing day by day. Therefore, government and the community have to apply some special policy and specify behavior pattern. Therefore, government and the community have to requires apply some special policies and behavior pattern [1]. While the gap between Turkey's energy production and consumption has been increasing from 1990 to 2004, in the later years of 2010 Turkey's energy production has provided just %28-30 of our consumption. While Turkey’s energy production is 34,47 MTEP in 2012, energy demand is 121 MTEP level in the same year [1].Renewable energy sources aren’t imported therefore it’s national and reliable energy sources.Also these energy sources aren’t run out and not produce exhaust and greenhouse gases emissions unlike conventional energy sources. The potentials of Renewable energy sources of Turkey showed in Table 1. Table 1. Renewable energy potentials of Turkey [2] Renewable Energy Source Specify Natural Potentials Technical Potentials Economical Potentials Solar Energy Electricity(TWh/year) 977000 6105 305 Thermal(MTEP/year) 80000 500 25 Hydro Energy Electricity(TWh/year) 433 216 127.4 Wind Energy Electricity (TWh/year) 400 110 50 Wave energy Electricity (TWh/year) 150 18 Geothermal Energy Thermal(MWt) 31500 750