1.3. Radiation balance of the Kola Peninsula
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To evaluate the potential of solar energy and the prospects of its application in the Murmansk region one would need to look at the results of surveys taken at the region’s actinometric facilities. The region has three actinometric stations – Dalniye Zelentsy, Khibiny and Umba – which compile data on the radiation conditions in the north, south and central area of the Kola Peninsula, respectively.
The potential annual values for cumulative solar radiation exposure of the Murmansk region on clear days fluctuate between 4,600 and 4,900 MJ/m2. Due to high cloudiness, which is characteristic for these parts, direct solar radiation exposure is decreased by 60% to 75%. However, the same conditions increase diffuse radiation exposure by more than 50%. When actual weather conditions are taken into consideration, cloudiness results in a 60% decrease of the annual solar radiation exposure deemed as potential, to between 2,300 MJ/m2 and 3,100 MJ/m2, or 650 to 850 kWh/m2.
The higher the sun is over the horizon, the less the depth of the atmosphere that sunbeams have to penetrate, and accordingly, the greater the solar radiation that can reach the Earth’s surface. If one assumes the vertical path along which a sunbeam is traveling to be equal to 1 (with the sun’s elevation equaling 900), then at elevation values of 300, 50 or 0,50, this path will be made longer by two, ten or 35 times, respectively. Table 1.1 shows data corresponding to seasonal changes in the position of the Sun over the horizon in the Murmansk region (Khibiny actinometric station, 680 N), in moderate climate areas (Minsk, Belarus 540 N) and in European southern regions (Sochi, Russia 440 N); Fig. 1.1 illustrates data showing global solar radiation exposure observed at the actinometric stations mentioned above [11].
Table 1.1
Solar noon zenith angle on the 15th day of a given month in the polar, middle and southern latitudes (in degrees)
| Meteorological station | Month | |||||||||||
| I | II | III | IV | V | VI | VII | VIII | IX | X | XI | XII | |
| Khibiny | 0.8 | 8.9 | 19.7 | 31.7 | 40.8 | 45.3 | 43.6 | 36.2 | 25.1 | 13.6 | 3.6 | 0 |
| Minsk | 14.8 | 22.9 | 33.8 | 45.7 | 54.8 | 59.3 | 57.6 | 50.2 | 39.1 | 27.6 | 17.6 | 12.7 |
| Sochi | 24.8 | 32.9 | 43.8 | 55.7 | 64.8 | 69.3 | 67.6 | 60.2 | 49.1 | 37.6 | 27.6 | 22.7 |
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Fig. 1.1. Global solar radiation exposure on the territory of the
Murmansk region (kW h/m2)
1 – Tzyp-Navolok, 2 – Dalniye Zelentzy, 3 – Murmansk, 4 – Yaniskoski,
5 – Khibiny, 6 – Krasnoshchelye, 7 – Umba, 8 – Chavanga
The illustration shows that global solar radiation exposures in the northern and southern areas differ most during winter months. In the summer, exposure values become commensurate because of the increased length of day in the northern latitudes. In overall annual values, the subpolar areas of the Kola Peninsula will receive 1.3 times less solar radiation than the middle latitudes, and 1.7 times less than the south. Fig. 1.2 illustrates seasonal changes in both solar energy supply and the potential yield of wind power installations. As solar and wind energy are in an antiphase, they can supplement each other, which serves as a premise for the joint application of their resources.
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Fig.1.2. An annual cycle of mean monthly global solar radiation in the polar (1),
middle (2) and southern (3) latitudes; an annual cycle of potential energy production at a WEC with a 1m² windwheel on the northern (4) and southern (5) coasts of the Kola Peninsula.
1- Khibiny station, 2 - Minsk, 3 - Sochi, 4 - Dalniye Zelentzy, 5 - Chavanga.
Diurnal solar radiation cycle is first and foremost determined by the changing values of the Sun’s elevation during the day. The highest irradiance values are observed during daylight hours in June through July and reach between 0.4 and 0.5 kW/m² (Table 1.2). On some days, favorable weather conditions with cloudiness levels not obscuring the sun will allow for an increase in irradiance values to between 0.9 and 1.0 kW/m².
If one assumes gross solar energy potential to be equivalent of the Murmansk region’s total annual exposure to solar energy, these resources will amount to enormous values of around 1.1×1014kWh. Murmansk’s solar energy technical resources can then be estimated at 1×1013 kWh, with the solar-to-electric energy conversion efficiency rate equaling 10%.«Previous Next» Back to report
