Light & Engineering Vol. 23, No. 2, pp. 78-87, 2015 Svetotekhnika No. 4, 2015 PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM UTILISATION FOR RURAL AREAS IN NORTHERN CYPRUS Cumali Sabah, Murat Fahrioglu, and Ali Muhtaroglu Middle East Technical University-Northern Cyprus Campus, Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Kalkanli, Guzelyurt, Turkey E-mail: C. Sabah, sabah@metu.edu.tr ABSTRACT Photovoltaic system as the renewable energy source became much important particularly together in LED based illumination systems application. <...> This paper presents an analysis and review study of solar energy data with seasonal variation in Northern Cyprus, which has one of the highest solar energy potential in Europe. <...> Also numerical and simulation studies are applied to analyze and review of solar energy potential in Northern Cyprus. <...> Measurements taken at two different sites of the northern part of the island are compared and evaluated to simulated results in this paper, and furthermore some actual production data from a photovoltaic farm is presented for further evaluation of the solar energy potential of the island. <...> Nowadays, it is an indisputable fact that people are obliged to meet their continuously increasing energy needs with new, inexhaustible, and environmentally friendly electric power sources [4]. 78 Renewable energy resources play an important role around the world in diversifying the energy portfolio from both economic and environmental points of view [1,5]. <...> Environmental and energy security concerns, as well as the strategic need to utilise the available energy resources effi ciently, have motivated nations, governments, technology providers, and academics to shift focus from conventional resources to renewable energy [6–8]. <...> Renewable energy resource can be defi ned as a sustainable energy resource that is available over the long term at a reasonable cost, and that can be used for any task without negative effects [9]. <...> According to the Renewable Global Status Report 2012, by the end of 2011, total renewable power energy capacity worldwide exceeded 1,360 GW, up 8% over 2010; renewable comprised more than 25% of total global power-generating capacity (estimated at 5,360 GW in 2011) and supplied an estimated 20.3% of global electricity. <...> The sun is <...>