Comparative Analysis of Solar Radiation Characteristics in Continental Climatic Zone by Using Insolation Models

Solar energy keeps increasing its potential to replace conventional sources of energy. However, the need for initial investment requires careful planning and efficient use of financial resources. The most vital part of such in-depth analysis is dependable data. Solar radiation values are of great significance to be able to estimate the potential of solar systems. On the other hand, solar radiation measurements are very limited in global scale. Thus, many models have been proposed to satisfy the need for the missing data. However, these models are dependent on the specifics of the region to be examined. Climatic conditions play a significant role in model development. There are four climatic regions in Turkey and each of them needs to be studied on its own. In this study, in order to design PV system for maximum efficiency under certain climatic conditions in Turkey, a comparative analysis of solar energy potential for two cities in the continental climatic zone is conducted. Solar radiation values on inclined and horizontal surfaces are calculated through MATLAB software. Based on the calculations, the values of the indicators show that potential for photovoltaic systems in both cities corresponds to expected levels. The solar radiation levels are evaluated to be at acceptable efficiency levels to design a photovoltaic system.