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The Potential of Variable Renewable Energy Sources in Mexico: A Temporally Evaluated and Geospatially Constrained Techno-Economical Assessment

Author

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  • Edgar Ubaldo Peña Sánchez

    (Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Techno-Economic Systems Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, 52425 Juelich, Germany)

  • Severin David Ryberg

    (Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Techno-Economic Systems Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, 52425 Juelich, Germany)

  • Heidi Ursula Heinrichs

    (Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Techno-Economic Systems Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, 52425 Juelich, Germany)

  • Detlef Stolten

    (Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Techno-Economic Systems Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, 52425 Juelich, Germany
    Chair for Fuel Cells, Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, RWTH Aachen University, 52072 Aachen, Germany)

  • Martin Robinius

    (Institute of Energy and Climate Research—Techno-Economic Systems Analysis (IEK-3), Forschungszentrum Juelich GmbH, 52425 Juelich, Germany)

Abstract

Due to the increasing global importance of decarbonizing human activities, especially the production of electricity, the optimal deployment of renewable energy technologies will play a crucial role in future energy systems. To accomplish this, particular attention must be accorded to the geospatial and temporal distribution of variable renewable energy sources (VRES), such as wind and solar radiation, in order to match electricity supply and demand. This study presents a techno-economical assessment of four energy technologies in the hypothetical context of Mexico in 2050, namely: onshore and offshore wind turbines and open-field and rooftop photovoltaics. A land eligibility analysis incorporating physical, environmental, and sociopolitical eligibility constraints and individual turbine and photovoltaic park simulations, drawing on 39 years of climate data, is performed for individual sites across the country in an effort to determine the installable potential and the associated levelized costs of electricity. The results reveal that up to 54 PWh of renewable electricity can be produced at a levelized cost of electricity of less than 70 EUR·MWh −1 . Around 91% (49 PWh) of this electricity would originate from 23 TW of open-field photovoltaic parks that could occupy up to 578,000 km 2 of eligible land across the country. The remaining 9% (4.8 PWh) could be produced by 1.9 TW of onshore wind installations allocated to approximately 68,500 km 2 of eligible land that is almost fully adjacent to three mountainous zones. The combination of rooftop photovoltaic and offshore wind turbines accounts for a very small share of less than 0.03% of the overall techno-economical potential.

Suggested Citation

  • Edgar Ubaldo Peña Sánchez & Severin David Ryberg & Heidi Ursula Heinrichs & Detlef Stolten & Martin Robinius, 2021. "The Potential of Variable Renewable Energy Sources in Mexico: A Temporally Evaluated and Geospatially Constrained Techno-Economical Assessment," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(18), pages 1-25, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:14:y:2021:i:18:p:5779-:d:634933
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jaramillo, O.A & Saldaña, R & Miranda, U, 2004. "Wind power potential of Baja California Sur, México," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 29(13), pages 2087-2100.
    2. Hernández-Escobedo, Q. & Manzano-Agugliaro, F. & Zapata-Sierra, A., 2010. "The wind power of Mexico," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 14(9), pages 2830-2840, December.
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