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Released for the World Future Energy Summit in Abu Dhabi in January 2013, the "Solar PV Atlas: Solar Power in Harmony with Nature" report suggests that by 2050, solar PV technology, if well-planned, would require less land than originally thought.
The report studied energy demand in seven regions--including the state of Madhya Pradesh in India, Indonesia and Turkey--and calculated the area needed to meet these needs. It found that less than 1 percent of the region's land cover is needed to effectively host solar panels, in order to meet 100 percent of the region's projected electricity needs in 2050, taking into account predicted electricity consumption and demographic changes.
The report notes that while it is unlikely all electricity would come from solar PV in future, the "100 percent" scenario serves to show that solar PV technology would not compete for land with people and communities, and would also respect conservation efforts. For instance, solar PV technology could be installed in built-up environments such as on roofs and awnings. Even when PV installations are ground-mounted, they would require less land needed by a coal-fired power plant and coal mine, according to the report.
Recent estimates showed that in 2010, clean energy sources supplied 16.7 percent of global final energy consumption and are growing at impressive rates. PV grew on average 40 percent per year since 2000 and promises significant growth potential. Research has consistently found that it could provide considerable economic and environmental benefits.
Citing credible scenarios, the report said that solar PV could probably provide only about 30 percent of global electricity production in 2050. The projection takes into account solar resources, electricity consumption and demographic changes.
While the availability of sunshine is crucial to the use of solar energy, the resource alone does not define markets, stated the report. Policies also shape a nation's energy supply. From bold targets to tiny first steps, those noted in the report show potential for large and sustainable solar market development if enacted well.
For instance, Indonesia could push ahead with efforts to distribute solar home systems to rural Indonesia, as conditions for solar PV are excellent across the Indonesian islands, with mountainous regions receiving some of the best sun in the country. In Turkey, PV plants installed along the Aegean and Mediterranean coasts could be a good opportunity to meet the electricity needs of the country's high population areas.
"People around the world are grasping the importance of a clean and sustainable energy future, while clean technology prices are dropping and policymakers are restructuring markets," stated the report.
"As climate change threatens humans and the environment, it is more important than ever to work for the efficient and wide-scale adoption of well-sited, responsibly and effectively operated renewable energy generation facilities."
This atlas builds upon the The Energy Report, published in 2010, which calls for renewable energy to meet all global energy needs. Published jointly with that report is an energy scenario by Ecofys*, which illustrates one path to attaining that goal and shows how a combination of efficiency measures and renewable generation, using today's technologies, can meet global energy needs to unlock a future of low carbon prosperity.
WWF is one of the world's largest and most respected independent conservation organisations, with over 5 million supporters and a global network active in over 100 countries. Thefull report can be downloaded from here.
BY :EMA staff