Characterization of the proximity to urban areas of the global energy potential of solar and wind energies
This study estimates the global energy potential of solar photovoltaics and onshore wind power and characterizes it with respect to the proximity to urban areas. Solar and wind power are centerpieces of a decarbonized energy system, and that different to other energy resources are disperse and widel...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
IOP Publishing
2023-01-01
|
| Series: | Environmental Research Communications |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ace2b6 |
| _version_ | 1827898140235137024 |
|---|---|
| author | Diego Silva Herran Shuichi Ashina |
| author_facet | Diego Silva Herran Shuichi Ashina |
| author_sort | Diego Silva Herran |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | This study estimates the global energy potential of solar photovoltaics and onshore wind power and characterizes it with respect to the proximity to urban areas. Solar and wind power are centerpieces of a decarbonized energy system, and that different to other energy resources are disperse and widely available across the world. Therefore, characterizing how close or far these resources can improve the estimation of their availability. The analysis is based on a model using geo-referenced data and parameters related to the energy resources, technologies and land features. Results showed that the energy potential of solar (409 PWh yr ^−1 ) and wind (354 PWh yr ^−1 ) energies concentrates in the vicinity of urban areas, demonstrating the value of resources close to urban areas for covering current electricity needs. For example, current electricity consumption can be covered with high-grade solar resources (capacity factor >24%) within 30 km away from urban areas, or with middle-grade onshore wind resources (capacity factor >20%) within 20 km away from urban areas. Thus, it suggests that constraining the use of solar and wind energy in the proximity of urban areas due to social acceptability concerns, may significantly impact the deployment of high to mid-quality resources. The study is a starting point to evaluate the effect of restrictions and costs related to the proximity on the availability of renewable resources and their penetration in long-term decarbonization scenarios. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:58:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-6f743a343c97402889f9af80b15744c5 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2515-7620 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-12T22:58:50Z |
| publishDate | 2023-01-01 |
| publisher | IOP Publishing |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Environmental Research Communications |
| spelling | doaj.art-6f743a343c97402889f9af80b15744c52023-07-19T14:57:09ZengIOP PublishingEnvironmental Research Communications2515-76202023-01-015707100110.1088/2515-7620/ace2b6Characterization of the proximity to urban areas of the global energy potential of solar and wind energiesDiego Silva Herran0https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5484-4442Shuichi Ashina1National Institute for Environmental Studies , Social Systems Division, JapanNational Institute for Environmental Studies , Social Systems Division, JapanThis study estimates the global energy potential of solar photovoltaics and onshore wind power and characterizes it with respect to the proximity to urban areas. Solar and wind power are centerpieces of a decarbonized energy system, and that different to other energy resources are disperse and widely available across the world. Therefore, characterizing how close or far these resources can improve the estimation of their availability. The analysis is based on a model using geo-referenced data and parameters related to the energy resources, technologies and land features. Results showed that the energy potential of solar (409 PWh yr ^−1 ) and wind (354 PWh yr ^−1 ) energies concentrates in the vicinity of urban areas, demonstrating the value of resources close to urban areas for covering current electricity needs. For example, current electricity consumption can be covered with high-grade solar resources (capacity factor >24%) within 30 km away from urban areas, or with middle-grade onshore wind resources (capacity factor >20%) within 20 km away from urban areas. Thus, it suggests that constraining the use of solar and wind energy in the proximity of urban areas due to social acceptability concerns, may significantly impact the deployment of high to mid-quality resources. The study is a starting point to evaluate the effect of restrictions and costs related to the proximity on the availability of renewable resources and their penetration in long-term decarbonization scenarios.https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ace2b6solar photovoltaicsonshore windenergy potentialdistanceglobal |
| spellingShingle | Diego Silva Herran Shuichi Ashina Characterization of the proximity to urban areas of the global energy potential of solar and wind energies Environmental Research Communications solar photovoltaics onshore wind energy potential distance global |
| title | Characterization of the proximity to urban areas of the global energy potential of solar and wind energies |
| title_full | Characterization of the proximity to urban areas of the global energy potential of solar and wind energies |
| title_fullStr | Characterization of the proximity to urban areas of the global energy potential of solar and wind energies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization of the proximity to urban areas of the global energy potential of solar and wind energies |
| title_short | Characterization of the proximity to urban areas of the global energy potential of solar and wind energies |
| title_sort | characterization of the proximity to urban areas of the global energy potential of solar and wind energies |
| topic | solar photovoltaics onshore wind energy potential distance global |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1088/2515-7620/ace2b6 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT diegosilvaherran characterizationoftheproximitytourbanareasoftheglobalenergypotentialofsolarandwindenergies AT shuichiashina characterizationoftheproximitytourbanareasoftheglobalenergypotentialofsolarandwindenergies |