Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has demonstrate the method of identifying the best suite locations for installing upcoming solar power generation farms, across the globe.
India’s space agency has done so using data obtain from it’s own earth observation satellites that are continuously monitoring the planet, from Geostationary orbit which is 36,000 kms above the earth’s equator.
While addressing his counterparts at the COP26 Global Climate Summit at Glasgow, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announce that ISRO would offer the world a ‘Solar Power Calculator’.
PM said that it would help decide the location of solar energy projects across the globe.
Prime Minister added that it would strengthen the ‘One Sun, One World, One Grid’ initiative.
Dr. K. Sivan Said, it was a technology demonstration proposal that was made using data from Earth Observation satellites.
“It is about using satellite data and identifying potential areas where maximum solar energy is available per year, across the globe. We will be collecting this data, analysing, mapping it and sharing it online and via a mobile application. Mapping this data and sharing it would help countries decide their upcoming solar power projects”.
ISRO was also developing some hardware for this purpose, Sivan reply that ISRO was only using data, mapping and analysing it and not working on any hardware aspect, for this project.
According to ISRO’s description of the solar calculator mobile application, computation of solar energy potential is essential to select the locations for solar photovoltaic (PV) power plants.
“An android app for the computation of solar energy potential has been develop by Space Applications Centre (SAC), ISRO, Ahmedabad at the behest of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, Govt. of India. It is a very useful tool for installation of PV solar panels for tapping solar energy,”.
ISRO’s website says the mobile app allows users to obtain the ‘solar energy potential’ data in (kWh/m2), when the location is key or is designate according to GPS.
Also It gives monthly and yearly solar potential process using Indian Geostationary Satellite data Kalpana-1, INSAT-3D and INSAT-3DR.
Solar Power Calculator also offers monthly minimum and maximum temperature to calculate realistic solar potential.
This app also offers monthly and yearly solar potential in kWh/m2 and minimum-maximum temperature at any location.
Solar Power Calculator also displays the location on the satellite image and provides azimuth / elevation angles as well as day length over different time periods in a year.
ISRO adds, Wind, solar and wave energy resources can be assess with the help of Earth Observation data, source from satellites that are in the geostationary orbit approx 36,000kms above earth’s equator.
Dr. K. Sivan said that the technology behind Solar Power Calculator had been demonstrate and that further work was require.
Regarding the much anticipate rocket launch schedule of ISRO in November and December 2021 and the possible launch of India’s Small Satellite launch Vehicle, it was being work out.
THANK YOU FOR READING.
