Estimating the Solar Energy Potential over Indonesia Region Using Daily Sunshine Duration

Attempts to map the solar energy potential in Indonesia were often limited by the lack of ground observation of solar radiation. In this study, the Angström-Prescott linear regression models were developed for Indonesia region, to estimate daily solar radiation using the daily sunshine duration data. The intercept values of all models range from 0.27 – 0.49, and the small range of coefficients indicates the homogeneous climatic condition over the Indonesia region. The estimated daily solar radiation from the constructed models fitted the observed daily solar radiation with acceptable accuracy. The selected model was then used to estimate solar radiation over the Indonesia region, using the daily sunshine duration data from 153 meteorological stations in Indonesia. The annual average of daily solar radiation in 2018 over the Indonesia region ranged from 3.0 – 5.6 kWh/m2, and the highest potential is observed over the southern part of Indonesia, particularly in Bali and Nusa Tenggara islands.