Evaluation of Potential Geographic Distribution for Large-Scale Photovoltaic System in Suburbs of China

• Main Authors: Masashi Kawase, Keiichi Okajima, Yohji Uchiyama
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Hindawi Limited 2013-01-01
• Series: Journal of Renewable Energy
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2013/106063

Since China is the largest CO2 emitting country in the world, photovoltaic (PV) systems are expected to be widely installed to reduce CO2 emission. In general, available area for PV installation depends on urban area due to differences in land use and slope. Amount of electricity generated by a PV system also depends on urban area because of differences in solar irradiation and ambient temperature. The aim of this study is to evaluate the installation of large-scale PV systems in suburbs of China, taking these differences into consideration. We have used a geographic information system (GIS) to evaluate amounts of installation capacity of large-scale PV systems, electricity generated, and CO2 emission reduction by the installation capacity of large-scale PV systems in suburbs of Liaoning, Shanghai, Anhui, and Guangdong. In Liaoning, the amount of CO2 emission reduction by the installation capacity of large-scale PV systems was estimated to be the largest, 3,058 kt-CO2/yr, due to its larger amount of the installation capacity, 2439.4 MW, than the amount of the installation capacity in other regions.