DATA ANALYTICS FOR THE PREDICTION OF SOLAR ENERGY GENERATION AND PV SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

The need for a stable source of electricity in any environment cannot be overemphasized. As the availability of energy brings about an improvement in standard of living of people, while the reverse would have a devastating effect on the life and activities of individuals in such environment. Therefore, some level of reliable energy source obtained through environmentally friendly means should be invested in to sustain the socio-economic activities and foster development. The major source of electricity in Nigeria is through the National grid whose supply of electricity is from hydroelectric power plants and fossils due to the vast deposit of crude oil and natural gas in the country. According to available statistics, less than 40% of the country’s population is connected to the grid and not up to 60% of the energy demands are achieved. The unreliable nature of electricity supply from the national grid has led to the emergence of alternative means of power supply such as generators, inverters and photovoltaic cells.