GERMI launches android app for gauging solar power potential

The Gujarat Energy Research & Management Institute (GERMI) has developed an android app for smartphones that can gauge solar power potential of a particular location. The institute hopes the app will be useful for target groups such as solar power developers and citizens who may want to identify and harness solar power at their respective locations.

Based on weather and satellite data as well as geographical factors such as radiation, elevation, and humidity among others, the app carries a solar photo-voltaic (PV) map of the country.

"Through provision of latitude and longitude of any location within India, the app allows users to know the annual and monthly energy generation potential. This will help reduce time for executing a project and save additional costs of consultants to know the solar energy potential," said T Harinarayana, Director, GERMI. The app has been developed by Jaymin Gajjar, a research associate at GERMI.

What's more, according to the app, the highest solar potential is held by Leh area of Jammu and Kashmir whereas the lowest potential is held by the North-East region. "In Gujarat, we have found highest potential at Junagadh around Girnar, while lowest potential is in Northern Kutch," Harinarayana said while adding that at higher altitude and lower temperature, solar power generation potential tends to be the highest.

According to GERMI, the higher the altitude, lower is the temperature, thereby creating higher solar power generation potential. "At 25 degrees temperature, solar PV panels generate optimal power," Harinarayana stated.

Meanwhile, apart from solar power generating potential, GERMI also intends to launch solar thermal maps that could provide potential data for solar thermal projects as well.