A Spatial-Based Integration Model for Regional Scale Solar Energy Technical Potential

Younes Noorollahi, Mohammad Mohammadi, Hossein Yousefi and Amjad Anvari-Moghaddam
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Younes Noorollahi: Renewable Energy and Environmental Dep., Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 15119-43943, Iran
Mohammad Mohammadi: Renewable Energy and Environmental Dep., Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 15119-43943, Iran
Hossein Yousefi: Renewable Energy and Environmental Dep., Faculty of New Sciences and Technologies, University of Tehran, Tehran 15119-43943, Iran
Amjad Anvari-Moghaddam: Department of Energy Technology, Aalborg University, 9220 Aalborg, Denmark

Sustainability, 2020, vol. 12, issue 5, 1-19

Abstract: One of the main objectives of human society in the present century is to achieve clean and sustainable energy through utilization of renewable energy sources (RESs). In this paper, the main purpose is to identify the locations that are suitable for solar energy in the Kurdistan province of Iran. Initially, solar-related data are collected, and suitable criterion and assessment methods are chosen according to the available data. Then, the theoretical potential of solar energy is assessed and the solar radiation map is prepared. Moreover, the technical potential of various solar technologies is evaluated in that study area. These technologies include concentrating solar power (CSP) and photovoltaic (PV) in power plant applications, and rooftop PV panels and solar water heaters in general applications. The results show that the Kurdistan province has the potential capacity for 691 MW of solar photovoltaic power plants and 645 MW of CSP plants. In the case of using solar water heaters, 283 million cubic meters of natural gas and 1.2 million liters of gasoline could be saved in fuel consumption. The savings in the application of domestic PV will be 10.2 MW in power generation.

Keywords: solar potential assessment; resource mapping; geographic information systems (GIS); site selection; Iran (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: O13 Q Q0 Q2 Q3 Q5 Q56 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2020
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (2)

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