ANALYSIS OF SOLAR ENERGY POTENTIAL BY REMOTE SENSING TECHNIQUES IN VARAŽDINSKA COUNTY, CROATIA

Abstract. Renewable energy becomes more and more considered as energy production due to great benefits and less environmental impact then traditional energy sources. As a part of the European Union, Croatia agreed upon certain energy efficiency goal that need to be achieved during certain period. In this paper we analyse solar energy potential in northern part of Croatia, Varaždinska county. Remotely sensed data, CORINE land cover, digital elevation model, is used to perform multicriteria analysis. There are different solar panels considered: mono-crystalline silicon panels, poly-crystalline silicon panels, amorphous silicon panels, gallium arsenide panels and cadmium tellurium panels. Based on remote sensing data estimated yearly production of electric energy from solar potential could be from 8.40*10⁷ to 2.43*10¹⁰ kWh depending on different slope of solar panels. Gallium arsenide panels shows best usability depending on slope estimated energy production is from 2.52*10¹⁰ to 7.30*10¹⁰ kW.