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Abstract

In recent years, with the increasing cost of fossil fuels and environmental problems derived from their exploitation, we are attending to a reborn on interest in renewable energies. Due to the lack of a dense network of solar radiation stations in Cuba, how varies the solar radiation spatially. That is why, was proposed as general objective, determine the behavior of the gradient of solar radiation. The used dataset consist of matrices with monthly values of radiation, obtained through a method based on meteorological satellite images, the monthly value is the mean values of the month. A description was performed about gradient variations respect to relief, wind predominant direction and transition from sea to land. Comparisons were made between the north and south coasts and were drawn profiles of radiation in specific zones for different months. Among the main results was found that, the largest values of gradient are on coasts and mountainous zones, while the lowest relate to the areas of the interior. It was also found that, in general, the gradient is stronger inward the land than to the sea. In the summer months the area of the country with higher gradient is the mountainous area of north of the province of Guantánamo and the winter months in the mountains of the Sierra Maestra. These results are quite useful in planning the use of solar radiation as a source of renewable energy, as well as, for agricultural, tourism and construction.