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Solar Photovoltaic Electricity Generation: A Lifeline for the European Coal Regions in Transition

Author

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  • Katalin Bódis

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy)

  • Ioannis Kougias

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy)

  • Nigel Taylor

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy)

  • Arnulf Jäger-Waldau

    (European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Via E. Fermi 2749, I-21027 Ispra (VA), Italy)

Abstract

The use of coal for electricity generation is the main emitter of Greenhous Gas Emissions worldwide. According to the International Energy Agency, these emissions have to be reduced by more than 70% by 2040 to stay on track for the 1.5–2 °C scenario suggested by the Paris Agreement. To ensure a socially fair transition towards the phase-out of coal, the European Commission introduced the Coal Regions in Transition initiative in late 2017. The present paper analyses to what extent the use of photovoltaic electricity generation systems can help with this transition in the coal regions of the European Union (EU). A spatially explicit methodology was developed to assess the solar photovoltaic (PV) potential in selected regions where open-cast coal mines are planned to cease operation in the near future. Different types of solar PV systems were considered including ground-mounted systems developed either on mining land or its surroundings. Furthermore, the installation of rooftop solar PV systems on the existing building stock was also analysed. The obtained results show that the available area in those regions is abundant and that solar PV systems could fully substitute the current electricity generation of coal-fired power plants in the analysed regions.

Suggested Citation

  • Katalin Bódis & Ioannis Kougias & Nigel Taylor & Arnulf Jäger-Waldau, 2019. "Solar Photovoltaic Electricity Generation: A Lifeline for the European Coal Regions in Transition," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(13), pages 1-14, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:11:y:2019:i:13:p:3703-:d:246108
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Stognief, Nora & Walk, Paula & Schöttker, Oliver & Oei, Pao-Yu, 2019. "Economic Resilience of German Lignite Regions in Transition," EconStor Open Access Articles and Book Chapters, ZBW - Leibniz Information Centre for Economics, vol. 11(21).
    2. Kougias, Ioannis & Taylor, Nigel & Kakoulaki, Georgia & Jäger-Waldau, Arnulf, 2021. "The role of photovoltaics for the European Green Deal and the recovery plan," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 144(C).
    3. Amjad Ali & Kashif Irshad & Mohammad Farhan Khan & Md Moinul Hossain & Ibrahim N. A. Al-Duais & Muhammad Zeeshan Malik, 2021. "Artificial Intelligence and Bio-Inspired Soft Computing-Based Maximum Power Plant Tracking for a Solar Photovoltaic System under Non-Uniform Solar Irradiance Shading Conditions—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(19), pages 1-26, September.
    4. Prăvălie, Remus & Sîrodoev, Igor & Ruiz-Arias, José & Dumitraşcu, Monica, 2022. "Using renewable (solar) energy as a sustainable management pathway of lands highly sensitive to degradation in Romania. A countrywide analysis based on exploring the geographical and technical solar p," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 976-990.
    5. Stanley Semelane, & Nnamdi Nwulu, & Njabulo Kambule, & Henerica Tazvinga,, 2021. "Evaluating available solar photovoltaic business opportunities in coal phase-out regions – An energy transition case of Steve Tshwete local municipality in South Africa," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    6. Arnulf Jäger-Waldau, 2020. "The Untapped Area Potential for Photovoltaic Power in the European Union," Clean Technol., MDPI, vol. 2(4), pages 1-7, October.
    7. Bódis, Katalin & Kougias, Ioannis & Jäger-Waldau, Arnulf & Taylor, Nigel & Szabó, Sándor, 2019. "A high-resolution geospatial assessment of the rooftop solar photovoltaic potential in the European Union," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 114(C), pages 1-1.
    8. Olivares, D. & Marzo, A. & Taquichiri, A. & Espinoza, R. & Henriquez, M. & Portillo, C. & Ferrada, P. & Conde, L.A. & Fuentealba, E. & del Campo, V., 2025. "Impact of thermoelectric coal-fired power plant emissions on the soiling mechanisms of nearby photovoltaic power plants in the Atacama Desert," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 244(C).
    9. Aleksander Frejowski & Jan Bondaruk & Adam Duda, 2021. "Challenges and Opportunities for End-of-Life Coal Mine Sites: Black-to-Green Energy Approach," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(5), pages 1-18, March.
    10. Oei, Pao-Yu & Hermann, Hauke & Herpich, Philipp & Holtemöller, Oliver & Lünenbürger, Benjamin & Schult, Christoph, 2020. "Coal phase-out in Germany – Implications and policies for affected regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 196(C).
    11. Almazán-Gómez, MiguelÁngel & Llano, Carlos & Pérez, Julián, 2024. "Putting off the coal in Europe: Socio-economic trade-offs across the European regions," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 195(C).
    12. Anatoli Chatzipanagi & Arnulf Jäger-Waldau, 2023. "The European Solar Communication—Will It Pave the Road to Achieve 1 TW of Photovoltaic System Capacity in the European Union by 2030?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(8), pages 1-10, April.
    13. Alexandros Kafetzis & Michael Bampaou & Giorgos Kardaras & Kyriakos Panopoulos, 2023. "Decarbonization of Former Lignite Regions with Renewable Hydrogen: The Western Macedonia Case," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-21, October.
    14. Amjad Ali & K. Almutairi & Muhammad Zeeshan Malik & Kashif Irshad & Vineet Tirth & Salem Algarni & Md. Hasan Zahir & Saiful Islam & Md Shafiullah & Neeraj Kumar Shukla, 2020. "Review of Online and Soft Computing Maximum Power Point Tracking Techniques under Non-Uniform Solar Irradiation Conditions," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(12), pages 1-37, June.
    15. Hassan, Qusay & Nassar, Ahmed K. & Al-Jiboory, Ali Khudhair & Viktor, Patrik & Telba, Ahmad A. & Awwad, Emad Mahrous & Amjad, Ayesha & Fakhruldeen, Hassan Falah & Algburi, Sameer & Mashkoor, Saoud Cha, 2024. "Mapping Europe renewable energy landscape: Insights into solar, wind, hydro, and green hydrogen production," Technology in Society, Elsevier, vol. 77(C).
    16. Jäger-Waldau, Arnulf & Kougias, Ioannis & Taylor, Nigel & Thiel, Christian, 2020. "How photovoltaics can contribute to GHG emission reductions of 55% in the EU by 2030," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
    17. Kustova, Irina & Egenhofer, Christian & Núñez Ferrer, Jorge & Popov, Julian, 2021. "From coal to low carbon: Coal region development opportunities under EU Recovery programmes," CEPS Papers 32801, Centre for European Policy Studies.

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