Effects of Tropospheric Height and Wind Speed on Solar Power Generation: Energy Exploration Above Ground Level

Abstract

Terrestrial and extraterrestrial factors hinder the exploitation of solar power using a ground platform. This paper is concerned with the generation of solar power above ground level. This paper employs modeling and simulations coupled with experimentation to establish a functional relationship between the percentage of solar power gain, tropospheric height and wind speed. The natural wind flow equation established a linear relationship between tropospheric height and wind speed, between tropospheric height and the percentage of solar power gain. It is evident that an insignificant percentage of solar power gain (≈2%) corresponded to 1000 m above ground level; the tropospheric height of 8100 m recorded 20% of solar power gain. Furthermore, wind speeds of 0 to 33 ms-1/distance (1000 m) correspond to ground level and tropospheric height of about 8100 m. However, there is a prospect of achieving more percentage of solar power gain by applying high-altitude platforms. The results obtained apply to other study areas having elevations below or equal to 1100 m, it serves as a guide in the estimation of the percentage of solar power gain by the virtue of tropospheric height and wind speed.