International Journal of Emerging Trends & Technology in Computer Science (IJETTCS)
Web Site: www.ijettcs.org Email: editor@ijettcs.org, editorijettcs@gmail.com
Volume 2, Issue 3, May June 2013
A RESEARCH STUDY ON DEVELOPING
SOLAR POTENTIAL MAP USING GIS
Juhi Joshi
Suresh gyan Vihar University, department of computer science
Mahal jagatpura,, malviya nagar, jaipur,Rajasthan
ABSTRACT: This paper discusses the application of
geographical information system (GIS) to map monthly
Global Horizontal irradiance (GHI) district wise in
Uttarakhand state by creating thematic maps. A solar
irradiation map performs theoretical potential of solar energy
for a specific region and provides information that useful for
site selection of solar energy system. The contribution of this
study to map the solar potential of every district in
Uttarakhand based on the Satellite data and the mapping will
be done by using GIS technology. The potential analysis
brings out that, maximum and minimum Global Horizontal
irradiance is in districts. Monthly solar mapping by province
for the entire of Uttarakhand are developed in GIS
environment by putting the location and solar irradiation
value in polygon format. Solar irradiation map can provide
useful information about the profile of solar energy resource
as the input for the solar energy system implementation. In
addition to this, it also provided the flexibility to enrich the
database, on which decisions are based. Mapping is developed
using MapInfo and linking this with the databases for
individual district. Sql queries are used to retrieve the data
from database.
Keyword: GIS, MapInfo, Monthly GHI, Sql (structured
query language)
1. INTRODUCTION
Uttarakhand state is richly endowed with natural
renewable energy sources. We will map monthly and
annually global horizontal irradiance (GHI) district wise
in Uttarakhand
In solar terms, irradiance is the amount of solar energy
per unit area received over a given time. The intensity
of the sun's radiation (irradiance) at the top of the
earth's atmosphere at the mean distance of the earth
from the sun is roughly constant (solar constant) with
an observed value of 1366 Watts/m2 {0.3%}. However,
on average, only about half of this energy reaches the
earth's surface [1]
Using satellite data, a solar radiation map has been
plotted, which shows the potential areas of solar
radiation. One of the first steps for the using of any
energy source is its estimation and mapping to identify
the most suitable areas in terms of energy potential. .
As we know, for the Utilization of a solar energy
system, knowledge about the solar irradiation potential
in the location must be required. In addition, a solar
energy map is practicable for further evaluating the
renewable energy option and planning, such as for site
location. For Uttarakhand, a solar energy map has not
yet been compiled.
Volume 2, Issue 3 May June 2013
ISSN 2278-6856
There were 15761 inhabited villages as per census, out
of 15761 villages 15593(98.9%) has been electrified
under RGGVY (Rajeev Gandhi grameen
Vidhyutikaran yojna) till 30 June 2012. Among all the
special category status (SCS) states, Uttarakhand has
the lowest percentage of villages electrified (82 per
cent); yet it has highest per capita power consumption.
In addition, the household access to power is just about
60.2 per cent just about the national average of 56 per
cent.
However, in 10 out of 13 districts, more than 50 per cent
of the population was without access to power (Fig .1).
Even in districts with 100 per cent electrification, the rate
of access was less than 70 per cent. So the use of
renewable energy can overcome this problem.
Figure 1 Electrify and no electrify villages in each
district
Power consumption in the state is about 824 kWh per
person per year, which is far above the all India average
of 592 kWh and that of Uttar Pradesh 300 kWh, and
Himachal Pradesh 794 kWh [2] .The high annual growth
in electricity demand of the state during recent years is
worth noticing: Between 2001-02 and 2005-06, total
electricity consumed grew at the compounded annual rate
of 12.05 per cent. The installed generating capacity was
1486.4 MW as at end of May 2006 of which 1019.7 MW
was the state's share. Energy, particularly, power
consumption in the state of Uttarakhand has grown more
than 5 times in the last eight years (2002- 2010). [3]
As per the Central Electricity Authority (CEA), the
expected demand of the energy for Uttarakhand for the
year 2011-12 is 10480 MU and the available energy is
8363 MU; while the peak demand of the state is 1600
MW and the availability is of 1430 MW. [4]
Page 220
 International Journal of Emerging Trends & Technology in Computer Science (IJETTCS)
Web Site: www.ijettcs.org Email: editor@ijettcs.org, editorijettcs@gmail.com
Volume 2, Issue 3, May June 2013 ISSN 2278-6856

So we can see that the demand and consumption of district location. It just an approximate values. The data
energy is high than the energy capacity. As the year cover all India at 10-km spatial resolution. so we take the
passes population and energy consumption increased. approximate data values .The main aim is to depict the
State got enormous potential for hydropower use of GIS in solar energy. The general methodology for
generation, but apart from that alternative energy analysis of solar irradiance framework using GIS
sources like solar energy should be encouraged. And approach is summarized in Fig.3.District shape file for
GIS can be proving very helpful because it evaluate the Uttarakhand state is taken as the first input to MapInfo
potential of sites for energy generation and feasibility Interface (software). This shape file may be created in
of getting energy to user. C++ environment or may be directly downloaded. We
downloaded it from website.
1.1 GIS used in Mapping
GIS can be used to help reach a decision about the
location, The information can be presented compactly and
clearly in the form of a map and resultant report, allowing
decision makers to focus on the real issues rather than
trying to understand the data. The main use of GIS in
renewable energy is to predict, a high level of accuracy
and the best location for placing the energy resources.
GIS can save time and money when determining where
and how renewable energy sources should be exploited
and used. GIS enables identification of areas with high
potential for developing RES, and regions with
restrictions on their exploitation, such as environmentally
or culturally sensitive areas. GIS improves the way we
deliver and produce energy and supports the development
of cleaner, smarter and more eco-friendly methods of Figure 3
energy production.
3.1 SOLAR IRRADIANCE MAPPING
2. STUDY AREA We only need monthly GHI from January to December.
The study was carried out for Uttarakhand state, India. It this irradiance is measured in kwh/m2. The information
falls in the north of the country between 7734' and on maps developed by GIS is displayed in thematic layers
8102'E longitude and 2843' and 3127'N latitude. and spatially referenced (geo-referenced) to the earth.
Uttarakhand and Uttaranchal, both are same state. There are following steps to create thematic map
Uttarakhand spread over an area of 51,125 km2
(19,739 sq mi) and population of 8.5 million as of march
2001. It is divided into 13 districts .it accounts for 17.3
percent of the total area of the country (32.88 lakh sq.
Km) and ranks 18th among States of the country in terms
of size.
Open MapInfo software, add
create database
layer uttarakhand.shp

Figure 2. Uttarakhand state

3. METHODOLOGY
We map the monthly global horizontal irradiance (GHI)
of entire state by using the various software tools of GIS
technology. We have Global horizontal irradiance data
from January to December. Mapping is developed using
MapInfo and linking this with the databases for
individual district. We take the data from MNRE Select table and field in layer
(Ministry of New and Renewable Energy)website. We
used the satellite data but it is not actual data for the
Volume 2, Issue 3 May June 2013 Page 221
 International Journal of Emerging Trends & Technology in Computer Science (IJETTCS)
Web Site: www.ijettcs.org Email: editor@ijettcs.org, editorijettcs@gmail.com
Volume 2, Issue 3, May June 2013 ISSN 2278-6856

Create thematic map

5(b) Map view of selected area
Fig 5

These are the 8 states which have population more than

400000. This is shown by the selected area.
2) 3.2.2 Sql select:

In the case of SQL Select, we can ask question from one

Create symbology (classification, ranges and color or several table(s) of information and perform these tasks:
label) Name of the villages in state which have JunGLO more
than 6.5?
Query:Uttranchal_adminstrative.district_name,Uttranchal
_adminstrative.junGLO,Uttranchal_location.PLACE,Uttr
anchal_location.NAME from Uttranchal_adminstrative,
Uttranchal_location where Uttranchal_adminstrative.id =
Uttranchal_location.id and junGLO > 6.5;
In this query we select the data from two different tables.
So first we need to join two tables. i.e. both tables should
Result: Uttrakhand solar irradiance map have a same column. To bind data together, across tables,
without repeating all of the data in every table we need
Fig 4. steps for creating thematic map primary key. Its a column with a unique value for each
row.
3.2 PERFORMING GEOGRAPHIC QUERY USING SQL Join two tables: We have two tables
The ability of GIS to search databases and perform Uttaranchal_administrative and Uttaranchal_location .
geographic queries. With the help of query we can show
the area which has maximum population or which has the
large area or which has the maximum or minimum GHI
in particular month and so on. There are two query
builders available under the Query menu, Select and
SQL Select in MapInfo Professional.
1) 3.2.1 Select query:
With the select query we can pose a question of a single
table. For example,
Which state has population more than 400000(4 lakh)?
Query: Select from uttaranchal_administrative that satisfy
population > 400000; 6(a) Uttaranchal_administrative table
It can easily select the data from table and can browse it
.this is browser view of selected data; we can show it in a
map view.

6(b) Uttaranchal_location table

5(a) Browser view (table)
Figure 6

Volume 2, Issue 3 May June 2013 Page 222

 International Journal of Emerging Trends & Technology in Computer Science (IJETTCS)
Web Site: www.ijettcs.org Email: editor@ijettcs.org, editorijettcs@gmail.com
Volume 2, Issue 3, May June 2013 ISSN 2278-6856

As we can see in table (fig 6) both table has same column January, 4.22 4.75 kWh/m2 in February ,5.716.03
id. There are following steps to update the column of kWh/m2 in March ,6.2 - 6.5 kWh/m2 in April ,6.35
uttaranchal_location table. 6.5 kWh/m2 in may , 6.03 -6.5 kWh/m2 in June ,4.72
5.91 kWh/m2 in July, 4.47-5.41 kWh/m2 in august ,4.78
-5.49 kWh/m2 in September, 5.07-5.37 kWh/m2 in
October ,4.01-4.61 kWh/m2 in November and 3.18 -3.97
kWh/m2 in December.
The dark red color in the map delineated that the most
solar energy potential in that location and light yellow
delineated the least solar energy potential in that location.
The map indicates variations in GHI across the locations
of the study area over Uttarakhand. The solar map
identifies the most and least suitable potential areas of
energy in terms of radiation availability.
7(a)

January

7(b)

February

March
7(c)

April

7(d)

Figure 7
4. Result
This study shows the Global horizontal irradiance in each
month .Uttarakhand receives global horizontal
May
irradiance in the range of 3.13 to 3.85 kWh/m2 in

Volume 2, Issue 3 May June 2013 Page 223

 International Journal of Emerging Trends & Technology in Computer Science (IJETTCS)
Web Site: www.ijettcs.org Email: editor@ijettcs.org, editorijettcs@gmail.com
Volume 2, Issue 3, May June 2013 ISSN 2278-6856

5. CONCLUSION
Uttrakhand has multiple micro-climatic zones. The entire
state receives good amount of solar radiation, about 36.5
kWh/m2/day. This map can be used as a former stage for
decision making to capture the solar energy as sustainable
development. This is a basic study to identify the potential
for solar radiation over Uttrakhand. This solar map is
June
useful to administrate the global energy resources on the
district of Uttrakhand. This can be a basic tool for further
analysis to implement the solar energy system in
Uttrakhand. Therefore it is necessary for further research
to examine the technical and economic potential of solar
energy from the viewpoint of a specific location and
technology. Power Producers of Uttrakhand could adopt
remote unelectrified villages to provide Green Electricity.
July Its time to exploit Uttarakhands green potential. GIS
helps government leaders decide where to site alternative
energy sources such as solar panels, wind turbines, and
biomass supply. With Web GIS, information can be
communicated to the public so they can consider private
installations of green energy sources.

REFERENCES
August [1] T. V. Ramachandra, , Solar energy potential
assessment using GIS , Energy Education Science
and Technology 2007 Volume(issue) 18(2): 101-114.
[2] Uttrakhand development report, planning
commission, government of India, New Delhi.
[3] Surabhi Mittal, Gaurav Tripathi, Deepti Sethi,
Development Strategy for the Hill Districts of
Uttarakhand ,Indian council for research on
international economic relation, July 2008).
September [4] UTTARAKHAND April 2010 by India brand equity
foundation.
[5] Stephen R.Gillespie, Determining, measuring and
analyzing the benefits of GIS, The urban and
regional information system association (847) 827-
6300.
[6] Adel Gastli , Yassine Charabi , Solar electricity
October prospects in Oman using GIS-based solar radiation
maps Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 14
(2010) 790797
[7] Pouria Alamdari, Omid Nematoll ahi, Ali Akbar
Alemrajabi Solar energy potentials in Iran: A review,
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews 21
(2013) 778788

November
AUTHOR
Juhi Joshi received B.tech degree in
Information Technology from gyan Vihar
University, jaipur, Rajasthan. She is
pursuing M.tech dual course in Information
Communication from Gyan Vihar University, jaipur,
Rajasthan.
December
Fig 8
Volume 2, Issue 3 May June 2013 Page 224