Assessment of Solar Energy Potential and Its Ecological-Economic Efficiency: Azerbaijan Case

Mayis G Gulaliyev,Gulsura Y Mehdiyeva,Elchin R Mustafayev

doi:10.3390/su12031116

Mayis G Gulaliyev, Gulsura Y Mehdiyeva + Show 1 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/su12031116

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Abstract

The paper investigates resource, technical, economic and market potential of solar energy and its ecology and economic efficiency in Azerbaijan. The authors have distinguished six regions in the territory of Azerbaijan with different levels of solar radiation. The resource potential of the regions is calculated by the AutoCad program. As well, technical and economic potential was calculated by special methodology. The authors concluded that Azerbaijan has so much solar energy resource potential and it is possible to replace traditional carbon types of energy with solar energy, even by using the modern technical equipment. However, it is impossible because of economic disadvantages and very low electricity prices. The price of 1 kWh electricity from carbon fuels is several times cheaper than 1 kWh electricity from solar energy. That is why it is difficult to attract investments to develop solar power. There is a necessity to develop a new electricity price policy to stimulate attractiveness of solar power for households and industry.

Highlights

The most important and most promising of renewable energy sources (RES) is solar energy (SE)
The technical potential of SE is the volume of solar cells, which can be obtained on the condition that losses due to PV technology and other factors, including weather conditions, as well as losses for cooling in any massif are taken into account
In a plant with a potential capacity of 30 MW, the number of employees will be at least 130, a multiple increase in potential will increase the number of employees almost to the same extent

Summary

Introduction

The most important and most promising of renewable energy sources (RES) is solar energy (SE). Other renewable energy sources, including wind, water and bioenergy, are directly related to solar energy. As science and technology are developing, the possibilities of directly generating electricity and heating from solar energy are expanding. Some oil-rich countries, including Azerbaijan, make some efforts to develop renewable energy sources, the fact that the cost of using traditional energy sources is much lower than the cost of using SE does not contribute to the interest of individual farms and households on investing to use solar cells. Given the possible impact of using SE on the environment and economic development in the long term, development of the solar cells should be justified, as fossil fuel natural resources are limited

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