Yearly Average Maps of Solar Radiation in Azerbaijan Energy and Power 2013, 3(4): 44-50 DOI: 10.5923/j.ep .20130304.02 Yearly Average Maps of Solar Radiation in Azerbaijan Fuad Mammadov Azerbaijan State Oil Acad emy, D. Aliy eva 227,Baku, AZ1010, p hone-fax (+99412) 4931764, Azerbaijan Abstract Due to his geographical location, climate condition and economica l in frastructure peculiarit ies Azerbaijan is the most perspective region for renewable and a lternative energy sources’ application. Today e xhaust fossil fue ls e xhaust stock equal to ~2 b illion tone crude oil and 2,2 b illion m3 gas that concedes to Middle East on the quantity. On the other hand the predictions show that till 2030-2050 years crude oil consumption in Aze rbaijan will consist of 50-55% and gas demand will be 20-25% which can lead appreciable depletion of hydrocarbon stock subject to their e xpo rt. In this aspect it is necessary to notice that in ma jority of the regions of Azerbaijan solar energy potentials consist of averagely 1600-2000 kW-hour/m2 (including some cases till 2200 kW-hour/ m2 in Na khchivan Autonomous Republic). For applicat ion of solar energy objective evidence on solar energy potential is important. To solve practical tasks dealing with solar energy and to include its potential in Azerba ijan energy balance long term measure ments should be carried out. Development of solar cadastre of Azerbaijan permits to estimate technically and economically benefic ial variants of solar energy potentials during solar energy plants building in diffe rent regions of the Republic. By this purpose in Azerbaijan solar energy potential map was firstly established. Therefore during 6 years measurements at weather stations located in the several zones of the Republic have been carried out. Here average annual amount of sunshine hours, direct, diffuse and albedo solar radiations were determined. On the base of the obtained results solar energy potential maps were prepared. I should notice that maps of Azerbaijan solar energy potentials are to be published in this paper in first time. Keywords Solar Radiation, Sunshine Hours, Direct Rad iation, Diffuse Rad iation, Albedo Rad iation 1. Introduction Mainly energy sector causes environmental pollution and formation of ha zardous gases leading green house effect in Azerbaijan. Gas emission per a person in Azerbaijan consists of 6-7 ton. According to the pred ictions this showing for 2020-2030 will be 9-10 ton. Such te mperature increasing happens majorly because of oil (40-50% ) and gas (35-45%) e xp loitation. Prevention of further ecological problems and energy crisis can be rea lized only at the e xpense of alternative and renewab le energy sources. Thus replace ment of the current fuel-energy sector into renewable energy sources will cause healthy life, natural safety, protection of flora and fauna. If we take into consideration that population Azerba ijan live in Absheron and the surrounding regions and already near 200 years oil and gas have been e xtracted here, in this case ecology clean energy application has great importance. For the solution of the practical questions put forward in this field of information on solar energy of the region is very n ecessary . Deve lop ment o f th e in forma t ion may induce new energy balance generation of Azerbaijan. Up t od ay t he we ll-kn o wn re s ea rch e rs E.M .Sh ikh lin s ki, * Corresponding author: fm_solarpower@yahoo.com (Fuad Mammadov) Published online at http://journal.sapub.org/ep Copyright © 2013 Scientific & Academic Publishing. All Rights Reserved A.A.Madatzadeh, V.M.Madat zadeh, Ch.A.Shver, A.D.Eyyu bov, Sh.Y. Goychayli and other developed and established climate (te mperature of soil and air, prec ipitation, radiation and heat balance, cloudiness, snow cover, relative humidity and so on) of Azerbaijan[1,2,3,4,5]. Though the deeds mentioned above, potential of renewable energy sources in none of the zones in the Republic have been determined. So in the co mmunal build ings, houses, industry enterprises, in oil and power-engineering sector, there is a great dea l of energy consuming processes. That’s why the average annual or average seasonal renewable energy potentials of the Republic should be known. Sola r energy for the demanded power generation in industry sectors is to be certainly determined. Only in the case of determining sunshine, direct, diffuse and albedo solar radiat ions’ average annual marks in those places solar themal and power stations can be built. Though Azerbaijan has rich solar resources and in this fie ld State Progra m was signed in 2004 in the Republic, none of database on solar energy potential for the country has been estblished. The neighboring countries, Turkey, Russia, Iran[6,7,8] have already processed their own solar energy potential maps. The first database on Azerbaijan solar energy potential was shown in the resaerches carried out by Dr, associate professor F.F.Ma mmadov[9]. At the result of the measurements realized bt the existing metereo logical stations in the Republic till 1990 years and on the base of measure ments done in the latest 6 years by us Energy and Power 2013, 3(4): 44-50 45 on the Republic average annual ma rksof direct, diffuse and albedo solar rad iations have been determined. Due to the obtained conclusions solar energy potential maps covering entirely the Republic territory were established. 2. Analysis of Solar Radiation Measurements During the measure ments beside data of 8 (e ight) main meteorologica l stations informat ion’s obtained from the mobile meteorologica l stations have been analysed. So the geographical coordinates of the region and relief we re defined. According to the re lie f p roperties Azerba ijan is so variegated country. Alongside mountains with 3000-4000, in the country area there are pla ins, lowlands, regions below fro m the sea level. Azerbaijan territory is divided into 2 places consisting of the Great Caucasus and the Little Caucasus mountains. Here a ir flo w enters the Republic via the Great Caucasus, the Litt le Caucasus Mountains and the Caspian Sea basin. Both the south cyclone and the hot air currents formed by semitropica l anticyclone systems causes generation of the air current. Th is factor influences on each zone in fa lling solar radiation distribution. In open air in Aze rbaijan average annual inde x of direct solar radiat ion fa lling onto the horizontal surface increases fro m the direct ion of the northern to the south beginning fro m the sea level. On the mountainous regions solar radiation a mount is higher than other places. For A zerbaijan region the direct solar rad iation ( 2/ mW ) fa lling onto the horizontal surface in open air and half c loudy weather condition have been given in the following maps. 3. Solar Radiation Maps 3.1. Sunshine Hours, Non Sunny Days and Direct Solar Radi ation Maps Average annual a mount of d iffuse solar rad iation in open air consists of 2/3530 cmkkal− In the mountains amount of diffuse solar radiat ion decreases due to the diffusing particles. In the foothill regions at 300-500 m he ight diffuse solar radiat ion a mount is approximate ly 2/36 cmkcal , at 2500-3000 m height that’s 2/29 cmkcal . In the mountainous regions during cloudy weather diffuse solar radiation changes enough. For Azerbaijan territory in both open air and half c loudy weather condition diffuse solar radiat ion ( 2/ mW ) is changing as at the below. 3.2. Diffuse Solar Radi ati on Maps Initia lly landscape and surface cover types were determined for defining total and a lbedo solar radiations in Azerbaijan territory. These are woodlands, mountains, plains, plateaus, lowlands, snow covers, water basins ( The Caspian sea , la kes and water reservoirs, rivers). At the result of the measurements in several c limate zones of the Republic correlat ion between average annual amount of total and albedo solar radiations and different height distinctions was determined and their graphics we re established. On the base of these graphics and conclusions total and albedo solar radiations map of the Republic was developed. Fi gure 1. Amount of annual sunshine hours 46 Fuad M ammadov: Year ly Average M ap s of Solar Radiation in Azerbaijan Fi gure 2. Amount of non sunny days a year Fi gure 3. Direct solar radiat ion falling on the horizont al surface in fair weat her Energy and Power 2013, 3(4): 44-50 47 Fi gure 4. Direct solar radiat ion falling on the horizont al surface in half cloudy weather Fi gure 5. Diffuse solar radiat ion in fair weather 48 Fuad M ammadov: Year ly Average M ap s of Solar Radiation in Azerbaijan Fi gure 6. Diffuse solar radiat ion in half cloudy weat her 3.3. Total and Al be do Solar Radiation Maps Fi gure 7. Total solar radiat ion in fair weat her Energy and Power 2013, 3(4): 44-50 49 Fi gure 8. Total solar radiat ion in half cloudy weather Fi gure 9. Albedo solar radiat ion in fair weat her 50 Fuad M ammadov: Year ly Average M ap s of Solar Radiation in Azerbaijan Fi gure 10. Albedo solar radiat ion in half cloudy weather 4. Discussion and Conclusions All maps were established on 1:1500 000 scale in Arcgis and Arcview progra ms. The developed maps are so important for the energy sector of the Republic. According to the decree signed by the president of A zerbaijan Republic these maps are to be included to the Azerbaijan National Atlas within the energy potential sector. REFERENCES [1] Shikhlinski E.M . Atlas of the Heat Balance of Azerbaijan. M oscow. p 92. [2] M adatzadeh A.A., Shikhlinski E.M . Climate of Azerbaijan. Baku 1968. p 344. [3] Shver Ch.A., M adatzadeh V.M . Climate of Baku. Leningrad 1988. p 112. [4] A.D.Eyy ubov. Climate of health-resort zone of Azerbaijan. Baku 1957. [5] Goy chay li Sh.Y. Ecolo gical p roblems of Azerbaijan. Baku 2006. p 198. [6] E.Taşdemiro glu and R. Sev er. M onthly and y early average map s of total and direct solar r adiation in Turkey . Solar Ener gy . Vol.37. number 3. 1986. p p . 205-213. [7] Wind and Solar climate Atlas of Russia. Publishin g house by name A.I.Vo ey kov. 1997. p 173 [8] M .Daneshy ar. Solar radiation statistic in Iran. Solar Ener gy . Vol.21.345. 1978. p p . [9] M ammadov F.F. Solar en er gy use in Azerbaijan and modern solar ener gy p lant’s. Baku, Proqres, 204 p . 2011. 1. Introduction 2. Analysis of Solar Radiation Measurements condition have been given in the following maps. 3. Solar Radiation Maps 4. Discussion and Conclusions