Assessment of the Global Solar Energy Potential at Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA) Permanent Site Afaka Kaduna, Nigeria

Abstract

This paper assessed the global solar radiation potential in Nigerian Defence Academy, (NDA) permanent site Afaka Kaduna, North west Nigeria, for the period of March, April and May 2012. The cantonment lies exactly between longitudes 7º 12’E to 7º 35’E of the Greenwich meridian and latitude 10º 36’N to 10º 42’N of the equator. Procedure employed involved the use of Hargreaves-Samani’s equation as a method of estimating solar radiation using minimum climatological data. The global solar radiation at NDA Kaduna within the period of study exhibits monthly variation, with mean values of 20.11±0.04, 20.14±0.04 and 20.18±0.04 MJm-2Per day respectively. The study makes use of a statistical model that adopts the available data to assess the global solar radiation at NDA, permanent site Afaka, Kaduna for the months of March, April and May, 2012.The information from the studies conducted goes a long way to establish solar irradiation data on the region studied which then forms a baseline for any planned application of solar irradiation in the area. Meanwhile the information will also assist the policy makers in the academy to know exactly the particular days and time in the months under investigation when not to expose the military personnel and cadets to vigorous military training. Simply because it’s the period of maximum sun shine in the region.