Insolation (Incoming Solar Radiation) is the amount of solar radiation incident on any surface – for our purposes, we will be comparing insolation levels on the surface of the Earth. The amount of insolation received at the surface of the Earth is controlled by the angle of the sun, the state of the atmosphere, altitude, and geographic location.
The values of solar insolation are commonly expressed in kWh/m 2/day. This is the amount of solar energy that strikes a square meter of the earth’s surface in a single day.
Insolation levels are used to determine what size solar collector is needed to efficiently provide adequate levels of hot water. Geographic locations with low insolation levels require larger collectors than locations with higher insolation levels.
For comparison, consider the average annual insolation levels of these two extreme locations:
Solar Insolation Levels In North America
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Solar Insolation Levels In North America
Insolation (Incoming Solar Radiation) is the amount of solar radiation incident on any surface – for our purposes, we will be comparing insolation levels on the surface of the Earth. The amount of insolation received at the surface of the Earth is controlled by the angle of the sun, the state of the atmosphere, altitude, and geographic location.
The values of solar insolation are commonly expressed in kWh/m 2/day. This is the amount of solar energy that strikes a square meter of the earth’s surface in a single day.
Insolation levels are used to determine what size solar collector is needed to efficiently provide adequate levels of hot water. Geographic locations with low insolation levels require larger collectors than locations with higher insolation levels.
For comparison, consider the average annual insolation levels of these two extreme locations:
* Oslo , Norway = 2.27 kWh/m 2/day (very low)
* Miami , Florida = 5.26 kWh/m 2/day (very high)
Data provided by NASA
Solar Energy Data Set for Renewable Energy Industry Use.