Determination and temporal analysis of global solar radiation in the Puno Altiplano

Abstract

The sun provides a stable and comfortable source of heat, light and is the central source of renewable energy. Its study is vital to evaluate its availability and usefulness in various applications to establish solar energy resources using clean and free energy. This work analyzes the availability of global solar radiation in three ecological zones of the high plateau of Puno as Circunlacustre, Puna Húmeda and Climate of Height; involving fourteen SENAMHI meteorological stations from 2007 to 2013. The model used is that of Bristow and Campbell, which is simple, reliable and effective, and uses data that are easily found in meteorological stations. As a result, a correlation of 0,938 was found between the estimated and measured global solar radiation, observing the global solar radiation has seasonal behaviors during the years analyzed. Subsequently, the maximum and minimum annual averages of the evaluated areas were obtained. The values are 6,342 and 5,481; 6,783 and 5,908; 7,298 and 5,945 kWh.m–2.day–1, respectively. It is concluded that the results in the study area are appropriate and very profitable for solar energy applications because they are higher than 4,000 kWh.m–2.day–1 in the period analyzed. Finally, it is sought that global solar radiation is transformed into thermal and electrical energy, to help solve problems such as frost, faced by the population of the high Andean area of the Puno region.