Solar PV Atlas: Solar Power in Harmony with Nature Towards 100 Per Cent Renewable Energy
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Solar PV Atlas: Solar Power in Harmony with Nature Towards 100 per cent renewable energy SOLAR PV ATLAS: PARTNERS WWF FIRST SOLAR 3TIER FRESH GENERATION WWF is one of the world’s largest Founded in 1999, First Solar has become 3TIER helps the global energy market Working to expedite a global shift to and most experienced independent the world’s premier provider of fully manage renewable energy risk. A sustainable energy economies, Fresh conservation organizations, with over 5 integrated solar solutions, creating value- pioneer in wind and solar generation risk Generation provides resource, market, million supporters and a global network driven renewable energy projects that analysis, 3TIER uses weather science and policy analysis to increase the speed, active in more than 100 countries. represent the leading edge of utility-scale to frame the risk of weather-driven efficiency, and cost-effectiveness of solar technology and innovation. variability – anywhere on Earth, across renewable energy adoption. Founded in WWF’s mission is to stop the degradation all time horizons. With offices serving 2009, Fresh Generation has experience of the planet’s natural environment and Having constructed and commissioned North America, Europe, the Middle East, in both large- and small-scale renewable to build a future in which humans live in many of the world’s largest, state-of- Africa, India, Latin America, and the Asia energy development. The firm has served harmony with nature, by conserving the the-art photovoltaic (PV) power plants Pacific region, 3TIER has global reach high-profile clients in media, energy and world’s biological diversity, ensuring that in operation today, First Solar has with services spanning renewable energy security. the use of renewable natural resources is established a portfolio of customers project feasibility, energy marketing and sustainable, and promoting the reduction that include some of the world’s most asset management. 1616 H St. NW Suite 900 of pollution and wasteful consumption. sophisticated energy buyers. The firm’s full Washington, DC 20006 service approach ensures the successful 2001 Sixth Avenue, Suite 2100 United States The Global Climate & Energy Initiative delivery of clean, affordable solar Seattle, WA 98121 www.freshgeneration.com (GCEI) is WWF’s global programme power and spans the entire value chain, United States addressing climate change and a move including module manufacturing; project www.3tier.com to 100% renewable energy through development; engineering, procurement, engagement with business, promoting and construction (EPC); financing; and renewable and sustainable energy, scaling operations and maintenance (O&M). green finance and working nationally and internationally on low carbon 350 West Washington St., Suite 600 ISBN 978-2-940443-63-5 frameworks. Tempe, AZ 85281 United States Front cover photo: © First Solar Avenue du Mont-Blanc www.firstsolar.com Copper Mountain, Nevada, USA 1196 Gland Sempra Energy using First Solar modules Switzerland (58 MW) www.panda.org 1 Solar PV Atlas CONTRIBUTORS Editors in Chief: Jean-Philippe Denruyter and Lettemieke Mulder Principal Writer: Allison Archambault Principal Cartographer: Christian Sarason Special thanks to: Michael Anderson, Ceren Ayas, Bryn Baker, Gwen Bender, Leo Bottrill, Maria De Lope, Karen Drozdiak, Saliem Fakir, May Guerraoui, Nyoman Iswarayoga, Tish King, Aarti Khosla, Yaprak Kurtsal, Laura Luckhurst, Faouzi Maamouri, Ben Mahler, Richard McLellan, Alin Moncada, Susana Moriera, Abhishek Nath, Mustafa Özgür Berke, TS Panwar, Vanessa Perez-Cirera, Voahirana Randriambola, Indra Sari Wardhani, Chris Sewell, Jay A. Scouten, Aurelie Shapiro, Winslow Sheffield, Stephan Singer, Christoph Stein, Todd Stone, Maja Wessels, Katrin Windolf, and Richard Worthington. 2 3 Solar PV Atlas SOLAR PV ATLAS: CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 6 100 PER CENT RENEWABLE ENERGY BY 2050 8 MAPS AND PROFILES 12 Indonesia 12 Madagascar 17 Madhya Pradesh, India 21 Mexico 25 Morocco 31 South Africa 35 Turkey 40 ELECTRICITY CONSUMPTION IN 2050 44 Efficiency and electrification 44 Access and equity 44 ELECTRICITY IN HARMONY WITH NATURE: PHOTOVOLTAICS 46 © Alain Compost / WWF-Canon APPENDICES 50 Annex 1: About this atlas – data, assumptions and process 50 Annex 2: Impact categories for utility-scale solar PV 54 Annex 3: Development example –Desert Sunlight 56 Glossary 57 Notes and references 60 4 SOLAR ATLAS: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Renewable energy requires land. But just The atlas considers electricity demands in that solar PV could provide about 30 per how much? seven diverse regions and calculates the cent of global total electricity in 2050. Of area (land or roof) that would be needed course, grid integration, storage and bal- This atlas illustrates some answers for for PV to meet these demands. In each ancing are important issues to address for one sector, solar photovoltaic electricity, of these cases, less than one per cent of renewable energy to be successful. These in seven different regions. the region’s total land cover would be topics are beyond the scope of the atlas required to host solar PV panels in order but are covered in The Energy Report by The Energy Report, published by WWF to meet one hundred per cent of the re- WWF. in 2010, called for renewable energy to gion’s projected electricity needs in 2050, meet all global energy needs by 2050. taking into account solar resources and With its selection of diverse areas, the While a balanced portfolio of renewable predicted electricity consumption and atlas illustrates that PV technology, when energy sources will ultimately fill global demographic changes. well-planned, does not conflict with energy needs, this atlas considers solar conservation goals. On a macro level, no photovoltaic electricity. Today, solar pho- While it is unlikely that all electricity will country or region must choose between tovoltaic electricity, sometimes called just come from solar PV in 2050, this “100 solar PV and space for humans and PV, provides 0.1 per cent of total global per cent” scenario serves to illustrate that nature. Quite the opposite. As climate electricity generation. However, PV has even using very conservative numbers change threatens humans and the envi- seen an average annual growth rate of for calculations, the maximum amount of ronment, it is more important than ever more than 40 per cent since 2000. Now a space solar PV could need, on the ground to work for the efficient and wide-scale well-established, commercially available and on buildings, is relatively low. In a adoption of well sited, responsibly and and reliable technology, it has significant realistic global portfolio of renewable en- effectively operated renewable energy potential for long-term growth in nearly ergy generation technologies, PV will very generation facilities. Environmental all world regions now and in the coming likely require far less land than illustrated protection and renewable energy can and decades. here. Several credible scenarios suggest must develop in parallel. 5 Solar PV Atlas At the local level, there has been some con- cern that PV development could conflict with livelihood and conservation goals. While these concerns are important to consider, research has consistently found that, when developed responsibly, ground-mounted and roof-mounted solar PV power plants provide considerable economic and environmental benefits. PV solar manufacturers, project developers, policy mak- ers, and other relevant parties should convene a multi-stakeholder initiative to establish global, sector-wide guidelines for responsible commu- nity engagement and land management. Each region selected for this atlas holds great so- lar resource. Resource availability alone, howev- er, does not define markets. Policy also shapes a nation’s energy supply, and, despite consider- able obstacles to overcome, there is room for optimism in each of the selected regions. From bold targets to tiny first steps, the policies noted in this atlas show potential for large and sustain- able solar market development if expanded and enacted well. © First Solar 6 100 PER CENT Renewable ENERGY BY 2050: OUR FUTURE IS renewable WWF HAS A VISION The way we produce and use energy this direction. Figures recently released This atlas builds upon the The Energy OF A WORLD that today is not sustainable. Our main fossil estimate that renewable energy sources Report, published by WWF in 2010, IS powered BY 100 fuel sources – oil, coal and gas – are finite supplied 16.7 per cent of global final which calls for renewable energy to meet natural resources. Furthermore they are energy consumption in 2010, and mod- all global energy needs by 2050. Pub- PER CENT renewable the main contributors to climate change, ern clean sources of electricity – like lished jointly with that report, an energy ENERGY SOURCES BY and the race to the last “cheap” fossil wind and solar – are growing at impres- scenario by Ecofys* illustrates one path THE MIDDLE OF THIS resources evokes disasters for the natural sive rates.1 Though it currently provides to attaining that goal and shows how a CENTURY. environment. Nuclear energy poses its just 0.1 per cent of total global electricity combination of efficiency measures and own threats to humanity and the environ- generation,2 solar PV has been growing renewable generation, using today’s tech- WWF, The Energy ment and remains cost-prohibitive when the fastest of all renewable energy tech- nologies, can meet global energy needs to Report : 100 per cent full costs are considered. In the develop- nologies, with operating capacity increas- unlock a future of low carbon prosperity. Renewable by 2050 ing world, regional and local desertifica- ing by an average of 58 per cent annually tion is caused by the depletion of fuel- between 2006 and 2011.3 wood that is often used very inefficiently causing substantive indoor pollution and We stand at an exciting moment of tran- millions of deaths annually. A fully sus- sition when renewable energies are com- tainable renewable power supply is the peting head-to-head with long-subsidized only way we can secure energy for all and fossil and nuclear power.