Abstract
Deserts with all their superficial harshness and in spite of having a limited number of agricultural products have hidden production potentials that if correctly recognized and exploited can pave the way towards dedesertification. Solar energy is one of the free and clean energy sources. In order to evaluate solar energy power generation potential in deserts, data related to radiation intensity in each hour of the day was collected from main Iran desert areas, for the Iranian month of Khordad (May–June) and the production power was calculated. After calculatingthe rate of each kilo watt hour of consumed electric power, the total monthly amount of power produced by solar cells was calculated. Finally, a comparison was made between consumed electric power prices before and after implementation of the Targeted Subsidies plan in Iran. In conclusion, the total production power of one solar cell during the month of Khordad was 98677.03 Kwh/m2 and the produced power prices before and after Targeted Subsidies Plan implementation, were 16236318.2 and 23306124.73 Rials respectively. Therefore, by determining new energy potentials, in particular solar energy and maximum utilization of the same, energy crises throughout the world and problems relating to using non-renewable energies can be minimized.Keywords: Desert areas, new energies, Power generating, Radiation intensity, solar energy
Highlights
There are two main types of solar energy technologies: Photovoltaic (PV) cells generate solar power by converting incident sun energy into electricity
Solar thermal is the conversion of solar radiation into heat which can be used in space and water heating, generating electricity in turbines and in large scale power generation (Shinwari, 2004; Geoscience Australia and BREE, 2014)
Concentrating solar power (CSP) systems concentrate solar energy to heat a receiver which is first transformed into mechanical energy and into electricity (International Energy Agency, 2010)
Summary
There are two main types of solar energy technologies: Photovoltaic (PV) cells generate solar power by converting incident sun energy into electricity. The annual solar radiation level in Iran is estimated to be between 1800 to 2200 kilowatt hours per square meter that is higher than the world average.
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