Articles | Volume 20, issue 21
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-12871-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-20-12871-2020
© Author(s) 2020. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Research article
| 
05 Nov 2020
Research article |
| 05 Nov 2020
| 05 Nov 2020
Photovoltaic power potential in West Africa using long-term satellite data
Ina Neher
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
International Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Applied Science Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Grantham-Allee 20, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology, University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923 Cologne, Germany
Susanne Crewell
Institute of Geophysics and Meteorology, University of Cologne, Albertus-Magnus-Platz, 50923 Cologne, Germany
Stefanie Meilinger
International Centre for Sustainable Development, University of Applied Science Bonn-Rhein-Sieg, Grantham-Allee 20, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
Uwe Pfeifroth
Deutscher Wetterdienst, Satellite-based Climate Monitoring, Frankfurter Straße 135,
63067 Offenbach, Germany
Jörg Trentmann
Deutscher Wetterdienst, Satellite-based Climate Monitoring, Frankfurter Straße 135,
63067 Offenbach, Germany
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Cited
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Comparison of Satellite-Based and Ångström–Prescott Estimated Global Horizontal Irradiance under Different Cloud Cover Conditions in South African Locations B. Mabasa et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/solar2030021
- Investigation of direct normal irradiance and total cloud cover connection over Nigeria using satellite data T. Abiem et al. https://doi.org/10.46481/asr.2025.4.3.332
- Harmonizing the hourly solar radiation calculation from satellite-derived irradiance M. Zech et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.114243
- Decarbonisation Strategy for Renewable Energy Integration for Electrification of West African Nations: A Bottom-Up EnergyPLAN Modelling of West African Power Pool Targets H. Ishaku et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315933
- Evaluation of the WRF-solar model for 72-hour ahead forecasts of global horizontal irradiance in West Africa: A case study for Ghana W. Sawadogo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.112413
- An overview of surface solar radiation data products at the German meteorological service U. Pfeifroth et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemets.2025.100031
- Enhancement of Photovoltaic Power Potential in China from 2010 to 2020: The Contribution of Air Pollution Control Policies Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15010228
- Africa's renewable energy sustainability: A spatiotemporal analysis using integrated projection pursuit and fuzzy clustering Q. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115976
- Estimation of Global Solar Radiation in Unmonitored Areas of Brazil Using ERA5 Reanalysis and Artificial Neural Networks E. Morgan Uliana et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16111306
- Efficiency optimization of solar photovoltaic systems for Nkata primary healthcare center, Ibeku, Abia State, Nigeria I. Johnson et al. https://doi.org/10.5937/POLJTEH2504044J
- Characterization of Sunshine Duration in Western Equatorial Africa: In Situ Measurements versus SARAH-2 Satellite Estimates N. Philippon et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-21-0072.1
- Assessing solar energy production in senegal under future climate scenarios using regional climate models A. Ndiaye et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seja.2025.100101
- Hourly global horizontal irradiance over West Africa: A case study of one-year satellite- and reanalysis-derived estimates vs. in situ measurements W. Sawadogo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.119066
- High‐Resolution Ground‐Based Solar Radiation Data for PV Applications: Evidence From Lawra, Ghana A. Bawa et al. https://doi.org/10.1155/ijph/8043308
- Hourly Global Horizontal Irradiance Over West Africa: Satellite- and Reanalysis-Derived Estimates vs. In Situ Measurements s. windmanagda et al. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4152712
15 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Comparison of Satellite-Based and Ångström–Prescott Estimated Global Horizontal Irradiance under Different Cloud Cover Conditions in South African Locations B. Mabasa et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/solar2030021
- Investigation of direct normal irradiance and total cloud cover connection over Nigeria using satellite data T. Abiem et al. https://doi.org/10.46481/asr.2025.4.3.332
- Harmonizing the hourly solar radiation calculation from satellite-derived irradiance M. Zech et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2025.114243
- Decarbonisation Strategy for Renewable Energy Integration for Electrification of West African Nations: A Bottom-Up EnergyPLAN Modelling of West African Power Pool Targets H. Ishaku et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/su142315933
- Evaluation of the WRF-solar model for 72-hour ahead forecasts of global horizontal irradiance in West Africa: A case study for Ghana W. Sawadogo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2024.112413
- An overview of surface solar radiation data products at the German meteorological service U. Pfeifroth et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jemets.2025.100031
- Enhancement of Photovoltaic Power Potential in China from 2010 to 2020: The Contribution of Air Pollution Control Policies Y. Zhang et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/rs15010228
- Africa's renewable energy sustainability: A spatiotemporal analysis using integrated projection pursuit and fuzzy clustering Q. Wang et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2025.115976
- Estimation of Global Solar Radiation in Unmonitored Areas of Brazil Using ERA5 Reanalysis and Artificial Neural Networks E. Morgan Uliana et al. https://doi.org/10.3390/atmos16111306
- Efficiency optimization of solar photovoltaic systems for Nkata primary healthcare center, Ibeku, Abia State, Nigeria I. Johnson et al. https://doi.org/10.5937/POLJTEH2504044J
- Characterization of Sunshine Duration in Western Equatorial Africa: In Situ Measurements versus SARAH-2 Satellite Estimates N. Philippon et al. https://doi.org/10.1175/JAMC-D-21-0072.1
- Assessing solar energy production in senegal under future climate scenarios using regional climate models A. Ndiaye et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.seja.2025.100101
- Hourly global horizontal irradiance over West Africa: A case study of one-year satellite- and reanalysis-derived estimates vs. in situ measurements W. Sawadogo et al. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2023.119066
- High‐Resolution Ground‐Based Solar Radiation Data for PV Applications: Evidence From Lawra, Ghana A. Bawa et al. https://doi.org/10.1155/ijph/8043308
- Hourly Global Horizontal Irradiance Over West Africa: Satellite- and Reanalysis-Derived Estimates vs. In Situ Measurements s. windmanagda et al. https://doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4152712
Saved (final revised paper)
Latest update: 28 Jun 2026
Short summary
Photovoltaic power is one current option to meet the rising energy demand with low environmental impact. Global horizontal irradiance (GHI) is the fuel for photovoltaic power installations and needs to be evaluated to plan and dimension power plants. In this study, 35 years of satellite-based GHI data are analyzed over West Africa to determine their impact on photovoltaic power generation. The major challenges for the development of a solar-based power system in West Africa are then outlined.
Photovoltaic power is one current option to meet the rising energy demand with low environmental...
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