[01] C. I. Elekalachi, Department of Industrial Physics Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria. [02] A. O. C. Nwokoye, Department of Physics and Industrial Physics, Nnamdi Azikiwe University, Awka, Anambra State, Nigeria. [03] I. A. Ezenwa, Department of Industrial Physics Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria. [04] N. L. Okoli, Department of Industrial Physics Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu University, Uli, Anambra State, Nigeria.

In this work, meteoroloogical data for Awka (6.207° N, 7.068° E), Enugu (6.452° N, 7.510° E) and Owerri (5.485° N, 7.036° E) in south eastern Nigeria, for the period of 11 years (2000 – 2010) were used to derive Angstrom type regression equations used for estimation of global solar radiation incident on a horizontal surface in the cities studied. In other to evaluate the significance of the results, three statistical methods have been used for the purpose. The three error formulae are; Mean Bais Error (MBE), Mean Percentage Error (MPE) and Root Mean Square Error (RMSE). The results shows that sunshine based model can be used for estimating global solar radiation in south eastern Nigeria.

Solar Energy, Global Solar Radiation, Sunshine Hours

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