Avaliação do Potencial de Geração de Energia Fotovoltaica pela Medição da Radiação Solar Incidente em Superfície na Estação Meteorológica da Ilha do Fundão – RJ

Abstract

European countries are leaders in the use of solar energy in the world, representing 65% of the global photovoltaic power generation capacity. This technology is already well established in Germany, Spain, Italy, Portugal and France. According to the Brazilian Atlas of Solar Energy, Brazil has high values of daily solar irradiation and little seasonal variation. The Northeast region has the highest annual average solar radiation, followed by the Midwest and Southeast regions. At the end, North and South regions. In the less sunny region of Brazil there is more solar radiation than in the sunniest region of Germany. The high values and low seasonal variability of solar irradiation in Brazil, in comparison with what is observed in European countries, are factors that demonstrate its high potential for the generation of photovoltaic energy. However, due to the attenuation of solar radiation by the atmosphere, mainly due to cloudiness, it is necessary to assess the feasibility of generating this renewable energy in the location of interest. For this purpose, solar radiation data measured in the year of 2017 by the Meteorology Department-UFRJ´s weather station in Rio de Janeiro, were used. The results indicate that the generation of photovoltaic energy by an array of solar panels hypothetically installed on the roof of block H of the Institute of Geosciences-CCMN would generate annually 410,785 kW.h and would meet the energy demand of that block estimated at 326,472 kW.h per year. The price of photovoltaic energy was calculated at R$ 0.11 per kW.h representing an annual cost of R$ 35,911.92. In turn, the energy generated by the local power supplier would cost R$ 1.012 per kW.h, representing an annual cost of R$ 330,389.66. The savings would reach R$ 294,477.74, which means around 89% less in expenses related to the consumption of electricity only in block H of the Geoscience Institute. The total cost of the photovoltaic system for this block, including installation and a 25-year maintenance plan, would be R$ 852,136.07 and the investment would be recovered in 2.6 years.