<abstract xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>Historically, Silesia has been at the centre of the Polish coal industry for many years and thus has experienced poorer air quality compared to other voivodeships. However, in recent years strong economic transformation in the area has led to a considerable reduction in coal production. This study aimed to assess the variability of global solar radiation at selected stations within the Silesian voivodeship, in order to re-evaluate the resources of renewable solar energy during the period 1994–2013. The theoretical potential of solar radiation was calculated based on a three-dimensional terrain model. The data on global solar radiation from 13 stations within the Silesia region, covering the period 1994–2013, were obtained from the Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Katowice. The most favourable conditions for the use of solar energy were found at the cities Sosnowiec and Cieszyn. The largest increase in global radiation over the research period was observed in Zabrze. The average annual global radiation ranged between 600–1300 kWh·m<sup>−2</sup>. Digital Elevation Models (DEM) for selected districts of the Silesia region were used to calculate the theoretical potential of global solar radiation. The highest theoretical potential of global radiation was found in the district of Cieszyn, located at the highest altitude.</p></abstract>

Historically, Silesia has been at the centre of the Polish coal industry for many years and thus has experienced poorer air quality compared to other voivodeships. However, in recent years strong economic transformation in the area has led to a considerable reduction in coal production. This study aimed to assess the variability of global solar radiation at selected stations within the Silesian voivodeship, in order to re-evaluate the resources of renewable solar energy during the period 1994–2013. The theoretical potential of solar radiation was calculated based on a three-dimensional terrain model. The data on global solar radiation from 13 stations within the Silesia region, covering the period 1994–2013, were obtained from the Regional Inspectorate of Environmental Protection in Katowice. The most favourable conditions for the use of solar energy were found at the cities Sosnowiec and Cieszyn. The largest increase in global radiation over the research period was observed in Zabrze. The average annual global radiation ranged between 600–1300 kWh·m−2. Digital Elevation Models (DEM) for selected districts of the Silesia region were used to calculate the theoretical potential of global solar radiation. The highest theoretical potential of global radiation was found in the district of Cieszyn, located at the highest altitude.

The potential of global solar radiation in the Silesia region as a renewable source of energy

Faculty of Earth Sciences, University of Silesia, Będzińska Str. 60, 41-200 Sosnowiec,

Environmental & Socio-economic Studies

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Historically, Silesia has been at the centre of the Polish coal industry for many years and thus has experienced poorer air quality compared to other...

The potential of global solar radiation in the Silesia region as a renewable source of energy

Published Online: Dec 28, 2016

Page range: 32 - 40

Received: Jun 21, 2016

Accepted: Oct 26, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/environ-2016-0022

Keywords
global solar radiation, renewable energy, DEM, Silesia region

© 2016 Katarzyna Waniek, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

The potential of global solar radiation in the Silesia region as a renewable source of energy

Published Online: Dec 28, 2016

Page range: 32 - 40

Received: Jun 21, 2016

Accepted: Oct 26, 2016

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1515/environ-2016-0022

Keywordsglobal solar radiation, renewable energy, DEM, Silesia region

© 2016 Katarzyna Waniek, published by De Gruyter Open

This work is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 3.0 License.

Keywords
global solar radiation, renewable energy, DEM, Silesia region