Solar Resource Mapping Republic of Malawi...the solar models that are used for generating reliable high-resolution solar and meteorological data for any site in Malawi. Production

Solar Resource Mapping Republic of Malawi

Supporting Strategic Planning and Commercial Development by Investing in Global Public Goods

Preliminary modelling and planning of Phase 2: Project inception and stakeholder

engagement; preparation of initial solar resource and meteorological data

calculated by satellite-based and meteorological models; preliminary validation

using ground-based data available in a wider region; preparation of Phase 2.

Ground-based data collection for two years: Implementation of a ground-

based measurement campaign using high quality instruments, with regular

data transmission and reporting, for the purpose of validating and improving

the solar models that are used for generating reliable high-resolution solar and

meteorological data for any site in Malawi.

Production of validated solar resource atlas: Preparation of validated solar resource

data and maps. The report Solar Atlas of Malawi describes the methodology and the

findings of the project.

Phase 1 / 2015Interim resource assessment based on satellite-data analysis and global datasets

Phase 2 / 2016—2018Solar measurement campaign to validate and improve interim resource assessment

Phase 3 / 2018Publication of validated resource atlas and accompanying datasets

Project Scope and Methods

Solargis data vs ground measurements

Project Timeline

Starting the installation campaign

Cross-comparison of the modeled and ground-measured data: 1-minute and 15-minute aggregations (Chileka, 24 months)

Pyranometer Kipp & Zonen CMP 10 Fully equipped station

Example of the quality control of the measured data (Chileka, DNI, RSP, Jan — Dec 2016)

Knowledge exchange

 passed  physical limit low  visual check partial  sun below horizon

Global Horizontal IrradiationGlobal horizontal irradiation (GHI) represents

a total amount of shortwave radiation received

by a horizontal surface. It is considered as a solar

resource reference and enables comparing individual

sites or regions. It is the most important parameter

for energy yield calculation and performance

assessment of flat-plate photovoltaic (PV)

technologies.

Overview of GHI at three solar meteorological stations

Interannual variability

Long-term monthly averages, minima and maxima

Comparison of long-term average of daily totals: original and regionally-adapted values

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Map of GHI long-term average (period 1994-2017)

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Solar meteorological station

Chileka 5.46 5.09 -6.7

Kasungu 5.69 5.44 -4.3

Mzuzu 5.54 5.10 -8.0

Direct Normal IrradiationDirect normal irradiation (DNI) is the amount

of solar radiation from the direction of the sun.

It is the most important parameter for energy

yield calculation and performance assessment

of concentrating solar power and concentrating

solar photovoltaic technologies. DNI is also

important for the calculation of global irradiation

received by tilted or sun-tracking photovoltaic

modules.

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Overview of DNI at three solar meteorological stations

Interannual variability

Long-term monthly averages, minima and maxima

Comparison of long-term average of daily totals: original and regionally-adapted values

Map of DNI long-term average (period 1994-2017)

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Solar meteorological station

Chileka 4.83 4.40 -8.9

Kasungu 5.00 4.51 -9.8

Mzuzu 4.76 3.97 -16.6

3

ResultsThe data measured at three solar meteorological stations contributed substantially to understanding of solar resource availability and variability in Malawi. The measurements also helped to improve accuracy of the solar model in the region. Now, the model can produce more accurate solar and meteorological data for any location. The overall uncertainty of yearly values for most of the territory of Malawi has been reduced to ±4% (up to ±6% in complex geographical conditions) for global horizontal irradiation (GHI), and to ±5% (up to ±10% in complex geographical conditions) for direct normal irradiation (DNI), respectively. Complete set of measurements is publicly available for download.

For each site, collocated with the solar meteorological station, a set of historical time series representing a period of 1994 to 2017 is calculated by the accuracy-enhanced models. The model data outputs include also TMY for P50 and P90 probabilities of exceedance. The procedures and results are documented in the consultancy reports, and have been supported by workshops.

Map data sources: Solar resource database © 2018 Solargis • Administrative boundaries © 2016 Cartography Unit, GSDPM, World Bank Group • Map data © 2016 OpenStreetMap.org contributors • GeoNames.org • Shuttle Radar Topography Mission, version 2 © 2000–2006 SRTM Mission Team • Cartography © 2018 Solargis • Solargis database version: 2.1 • Map issue date: 2018-12-07. Co-pyright © 2018 Solargis. Disclaimer: Considering the nature of climate fluctuations, interannual and long-term changes, as well as the uncertainty of measurements and applied methods, Solargis does not take any responsibility whatsoever, and does not give any warranty on the accuracy of the data that were used to produce this map. Solargis has done its utmost to assess climate conditions based on the best available data, software, and knowledge. It is recommended that this map be used as a guideline rather than an instrument for building the solar power systems. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means without the prior written permission of the copyright owner.

Road side impressions along the M1 between Blantyre and Lilongwe

The Republic of Malawi has very limited energy supply sources. The overall national electrification rate in the country is about 9 percent with rural access rate at just 1 percent. In terms of household energy consumption, 95 percent is supplied from biomass energy sources. Currently over 99 percent of electricity is generated from hydroelectric sources.

Solar energy has a good potential in Malawi, as far as solar radiation in the region is amongst the highest in the world. Also, solar resources are well suited for mini-grid and off-grid applications in rural areas and remote settlements where rolling grids would impose high costs and supply would be unreliable due to the high technical losses of long-distance transmission lines.

However, there is a lack of development of the renewable energy sector in general and solar energy technologies in particular (but also other technologies). This is mainly due to inadequate policy provisions and implementation, restricted financial sources for technology provision and the undeveloped nature of the solar energy markets.

Renewable resource assessment data is essential to understand the magnitude, geographic distribution, characteristics, and variability of renewable resources within any country. Therefore, country level resource mapping and spatial planning should be viewed as a public good (being accessible to all interested parties on a no fee basis) that has significant potential to increase investment, shorten deployment times, and reduce development costs.

Technical reports, online data access and more informationesmap.org/re_mapping_malawiglobalsolaratlas.info/downloads/malawienergydata.info

Low Medium Low Medium

Original data < ±12% < ±21% < ±9% < ±13%

After adaptation ±5% to ±7% < ±10% ±4% to ±5% < ±6%

Yearly estimates

of Solargis model

uncertainty

Direct Normal Irradiation Global Horizontal Irradiation

Photo Credit: Hansueli Krapf

About

This leaflet presents results from the World Bank’s Solar

Resource Mapping project in Malawi. The project is funded

by the Energy Sector Management Assistance Program

(ESMAP), under a global initiative in support of renewable

energy resource assessment and mapping, administered

by the World Bank and supported by donors. The Solar

Resource Mapping project in Malawi has been developed

in a close coordination with the Ministry of Natural

Resources, Energy and Mining (MoNREM) of Malawi,

the World Bank’s primary country counterpart for this

project.

Under the project, a solar and meteorological

measurement campaign was carried out on three

meteorological sites for a period of two years with

the aim of reducing the uncertainty and improving

the accuracy of solar resource models in Malawi. The

data and maps with improved accuracy can be used

for knowledge-based decision making for solar energy

investments in Malawi. The results are uploaded into the

Global Solar Atlas.

World Bank GroupThe World Bank Group is one of the world’s largest sources of funding and knowledge for developing countries. Its five institutions share a commitment to reducing poverty, increasing shared prosperity, and promoting sustainable development.

ESMAPESMAP is a partnership between the World Bank Group and its 18 partners to help low and middle income countries reduce poverty and boost growth, through environmentally sustainable energy solutions.

MAIN CONTRACTOR Solargis s.r.o.Mytna 48, 81107 [email protected]

SUBCONTRACTORGeoSUN AfricaUnit 1, CS Africa Building, 1 Meson Street, Techno ParkStellenbosch, 7600South Africa

Solar Resource Mapping

Project results can be viewed also on the World Bank web sites globalsolaratlas.info and energydata.info

LOCAL PARTNER SGS Malawi LimitedGround Floor, Tama HouseCity Centre, LilongweMalawi

Solargis is an international consultancy and technology company in the field of solar resource and photovoltaic energy assessment. The company has been leading the execution of Solar Resource Mapping project in Malawi, in cooperation with the subcontractor GeoSUN Africa and the local partner SGS Malawi, who were responsible for solar measurement campaign.