Solar energy is very attractive in Mongolia. Most parts of the country receive about 300 days of sunlight a year. 70% of the country has been classified as having high insolation (Incoming Solar Radiation) of 5.5-6.0 kWh/m2 per day with annual sunshine duration of 2900 to 3000 hours per year. The steppe, the Altai-Gobi, and the Gobi regions of Mongolia have this amount of insolation. 18% of the country has moderate levels of insolation of 4.5-5.5 kWh/m2 per day with an annual sunshine duration of 2600-2900 hours per year. Areas with this level of insolation are mainly in the mountain ranges. And 12% of the country has low levels of insolation, receiving less than 4.5 kWh/m2 per day and fewer than 2600 hours of sunshine per year.
The most cost-effective way of harnessing solar energy is through the use of solar hot-water heaters. These heaters are already ubiquitous in China and Israel, where they are required on all new buildings. Photovoltaic power, on the other hand, is much more expensive. The installation of photovoltaic power is possible at a number of levels. It can be done as a large-scale solar farm, on a mid-scale as a sum center power station, or on a small-scale as a system of powering an individual ger.
The Mongolian government has been working to subsidize the distribution of small 50Wp solar panels to nomadic families, a project named “100,000 Solar Gers.” These panels provide power for light bulbs, cell phone chargers, black and white television sets, and other small devices. Many panels have been distributed, but demand is still estimated to be around 60,000-70,000 families.
Solar Radiation
