Abstract
Previous research has assessed the potential of solar energy against possible demand; however, the sustainability issues associated with the use of large-scale photovoltaic deployment in urban areas have not been jointly established. In this paper, the impact of photovoltaic energy in the total urban energy mix is estimated using a series of indicators that consider the economic, environmental and social dimensions. These indicators have been previously applied at the country level; the main contribution of this research is applying them at the urban level to the city of Cuenca, Ecuador. Cuenca is close to the equatorial line and at a high altitude, enabling this area to reach the maximum self-supply index because of the high irradiation levels and reduced demand. The solar potential was estimated using a simple methodology that applies several indexes that were proven reliable in a local context considering this particular sun path. The results demonstrate that the solar potential can meet the electric power demand of this city, and only the indicator related to employment is positive and substantially affected. The indicators related to the price of energy, emissions and fossil fuel dependency do not change significantly, unless a fuel-to-electricity transport system conversions take place.
Highlights
Cities are responsible for 75% of the total carbon dioxide emissions, which are the primary cause of global warming [1]
Many sizing methodologies are based on municipal information, which is dependent on existing data and their accuracy [59]
Several studies use the ratio of the roof area to the ground floor area as a baseline indicator [60,61] in circumstances where sloping roofs and eaves prevail, which is common in Cuenca
Summary
Cities are responsible for 75% of the total carbon dioxide emissions, which are the primary cause of global warming [1]. The energy demand of urban environments can be reduced or substantially met through the application of energy-efficient measures and renewable technologies [2,3]. Since these measures can achieve energy independence and democratization for countries in terms of their import needs, the aggressive use of renewable energies (REs) can reduce emissions, create jobs and increase the gross domestic product [4]. The urban insertion of renewable energy production has resulted from the adoption of public policies, municipal incentives and the adoption of strategies at different scales and met relative success depending on local conditions [3,6]. Photovoltaics (PVs) present the greatest economic, social and environmental development opportunity and are considered the fastest growing technology [7]
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