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Linking Solar and Biomass Resources to Generate Renewable Energy: Can We Find Local Complementarities in the Agricultural Setting?

Author

Listed:
  • Gillianne Bowman

    (Sustainable Forestry Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland)

  • Thierry Huber

    (Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, John-von-Neumann-Weg 9, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland)

  • Vanessa Burg

    (Sustainable Forestry Group, Swiss Federal Research Institute WSL, CH-8903 Birmensdorf, Switzerland
    Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, John-von-Neumann-Weg 9, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland)

Abstract

Today, an energy transition is underway to tackle the problems of climate change and energy sufficiency. For this transition to succeed, it is essential to use all available renewable energy resources most efficiently. However, renewable energies often bring a high level of volatility that needs to be balanced. One solution is combining the use of different renewable sources to increase the overall energy output or reduce its environmental impact. Here, we estimate the agricultural solar and biomass resources at the local level in Switzerland, considering their spatial and temporal variability using geographic information systems. We then identify the technologies that could allow for synergies or complementarities. Overall, the technical agricultural resources potential is a ~15 PJ/annum biogas yield from residual biomass and ~10 TWh/a in terms of electricity from solar photovoltaic tiles installed on roofs (the equivalent to ~36 PJ/a). Biomethane upgrading, power to X, electrolysis, cooling or photovoltaic roofing on biogas facilities are among the examples that could foster complementarity in the system if resources are pooled within the agricultural setting. Temporal complementarity at the farm scale can only lead to partial autarchy. The possible benefits of these complementarities should be further investigated, looking in particular at the economic viability of such systems.

Suggested Citation

  • Gillianne Bowman & Thierry Huber & Vanessa Burg, 2023. "Linking Solar and Biomass Resources to Generate Renewable Energy: Can We Find Local Complementarities in the Agricultural Setting?," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-17, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jeners:v:16:y:2023:i:3:p:1486-:d:1055802
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Romano, Elliot & Trutnevyte, Evelina, 2026. "Local energy communities in rural Switzerland: national scalability under different incentives schemes and economic scenarios," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 256(PH).
    2. Song, Chenchen & Guo, Zhiling & Liu, Zhengguang & Hongyun, Zhang & Liu, Ran & Zhang, Haoran, 2024. "Application of photovoltaics on different types of land in China: Opportunities, status and challenges," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 191(C).
    3. Hugo Guzmán-Bello & Iosvani López-Díaz & Miguel Aybar-Mejía & Máximo Domínguez-Garabitos & Jose Atilio de Frias, 2023. "Biomass Energy Potential of Agricultural Residues in the Dominican Republic," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(22), pages 1-19, November.

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