Abstract:
Although Nigerians have hitherto viewed cheap and plentiful energy sources such as coal, oil and gas as their birth right ,the supply is no longer cheap or accessible. there is an energy crisis due to political instability coupled with the drop in foreign exchange due to drop in oil export.The use of solar energy now becomes a viable option. to harness and utilize this abundant solar energy efficiently, it is necessary to know just how much of this energy is actually available at any give location and the factors that influence its intensity (including seasonal variation). with this problem in mind an improved thermophile pyranometer has been constructed using locally available materials and was to measure the total direct and diffuse daily insulation at Nsukka. latitude 6.8 N longitude 7.35 in May, 1991. the reading obtained clearly show that the constructed pyranometer is very sensitive and responds quickly to any fluctuation in solar radiations intensity.Chapter one of this project work deals with the fundamental concept of the sun which is the source of solar energy. The factors that influence this solar energy distribution on Earth are also discussed.
