Abstract:
Electricity demand across the world has continued to be the driving force that propels the
economy. However, most regions without adequate access to electricity, including Nigeria,
are regions with sufficient natural resources that can be developed to cater for their energy
needs. Thus, the total energy demand of Nigeria could be met if a substantial portion of the
total radiant solar energy radiant is converted using suitable solar technology. However, the
incident power received on a photovoltaic (PV) module does not only depend on the
intensity of sunlight, but also on the angle between the module and the sun (tilt angle). Thus,
the optimum tilt angle of a PV module need to be accurately determined to optimize the
total solar radiation received. In this research, the maximum global solar radiation and the
corresponding optimum tilt angle was obtained for different geoclimatic zones in Nigeria,
using direct, diffuse, and ground-reflected irradiances. The monthly results show that the
maximum radiation is received at optimum tilt angles between 30° and 45° from October
till February and between 15° and 30° from March till September for all the stations.
Moreover, the seasonal results show that the maximum radiation is received in all the zones
in MAM and JJA seasons at 15°, except Coastal Zone with a tilt angle of 45° during JJA
season. Additionally, DJF and SON have maximum radiations at 45° and 15°, respectively.
The result of the estimated monthly power revealed that Sahel Savanna and Sudan Savanna
zones produced the highest power, which make them ideal for large-scale electricity
production while the relatively low power in the Guinea and Coastal zones make them ideal
for household and rural electrification. The results of this research will provide solar
engineers with accurate information on the orientation and tilt of PV modules for efficient
power generation.
