Estimation of solar energy potential for Islamabad, Pakistan

In order to design a solar energy system with optimized performance a through knowledge of solar radiation data for a considerably long period (20-25 years) is a pre-requisite. For developing countries like Pakistan, the need of empirical models to assess the feasibility of solar energy utilization seems inevitable due to the absence and scarcity of trust-worthy solar radiation data. We present such models for the capital city of Pakistan, Islamabad to estimate global and diffuse solar radiation. It is found that with the exception of monsoon month, solar energy can be utilized very efficiently throughout the year. The models suggested could be used for most of the north-eastern areas of Pakistan, which are similar to Islamabad with respect to the climate and the availability of solar radiation but lack in the record of solar radiation data.