T. V. Ramachandra
Centre for Ecological Sciences, Indian Institute of Science,
Centre for Application of Science and Technology
to Rural Areas (ASTRA),
Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore 560 012, India
Citation: Ramachandra T.V., 2007. Solar energy potential assessment using GIS., Energy Education Science and Technology, 18(2): 101-114.
Abstract
Renewable energy resources are those having a cycling time less than 100 years and are
renewed by the nature and their supply exceeds the rate of consumption. Renewable energy
systems use resources that are constantly replaced in nature and are usually less polluting. In order
to tap the potential of renewable energy sources, there is a need to assess the availability of
resources spatially as well as temporally. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) along with
Remote Sensing (RS) helps in mapping on spatial and temporal scales of the resources and
demand. The spatial database of resource availability and the demand would help in the regional
energy planning. This paper discusses the application of geographical information system (GIS) to
map the solar potential in Karnataka state, India. Regions suitable for tapping solar energy are
mapped on the basis of global solar radiation data, and this analysis provides a picture of the
potential. The study identifies that Coastal parts of Karnataka with the higher global solar radiation
is ideally suited for harvesting solar energy. The potential analysis reveals that, maximum global
solar radiation is in districts such as Uttara Kannada and Dakshina Kannada. Global solar radiation
in Uttara Kannada during summer, monsoon and winter are 6.31, 4.40 and 5.48 kWh/sq.m,
respectively. Similarly, Dakshina Kannada has 6.16, 3.89 and 5.21 kWh/sq.m during summer,
monsoon and winter.
Keywords : Solar energy, Potential, GIS
* Corresponding author:
Tel.: 91-080-23600985 ; fax: 91-080-23601428
E-mail address : cestvr@ces.iisc.ernet.in (T. V. Ramachandra)