ESTIMATING THE SOLAR EXERGY POTENTIAL OF SURFACES WITH DIFFERENT TILT ANGLES

Solar energy, which is a clean, unlimited, and environmentally friendly energy source, has critical importance in sustainable energy management. The usable potential of energy is expressed in terms of exergy, and the determination of the exergy potential of solar energy ensures the correct utilization of this potential. Turkey has a very high solar energy potential, and this potential should be utilized in the most efficient way possible to achieve sustainable energy targets. The tilt angle of solar panels has a significant effect on efficiency. Efficient operation of solar panels can be achieved by determining the optimum tilt angle. In this study, Turkey's solar exergy potential was calculated for the horizontal plane and five different tilt angles (21°, 30°, 39°, 48°, and 57°). Thus, it was tried to determine the appropriate panel angle to get the highest efficiency from solar panels that can be used in different regions of Turkey. The calculations are based on 22-year average solar energy potential data obtained from NASA. The exergy potential was determined for the coordinates where Turkey is located, and the potential for the regions between the coordinates was determined by the interpolation method. With the interpolation method used, an approximate estimation for the areas where there is no measurement is also provided, and it is aimed at saving the time and cost required for long-term measurements. Among the tilt angles analyzed, the optimum angle for the whole year was determined to be 30 degrees. The exergy potential for 30° inclined surfaces in all coordinates of Turkey is given as a seasonal map. With the use of the maps, it is thought that the optimum angle and exergy potential for different regions and seasons of Turkey will be predicted, and thus it will be easier for new investors to determine the high-potential regions of Turkey.