Net radiative forcing from widespread deployment of photovoltaics.
Environ Sci Technol
; 43(6): 2173-8, 2009 Mar 15.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-19368231
ABSTRACT
If photovoltaics (PV) are to contribute significantly to stabilizing the climate, they will need to be deployed on the scale of multiple terawatts. Installation of that much PV would cover substantial portions of the Earth's surface with dark-colored, sunlight-absorbing panels, reducing the Earth's albedo. How much radiative forcing would result from this change in land use? How does this amount compare to the radiative forcing avoided by substituting PV for fossil fuels? This analysis uses a series of simple equations to compare the two effects and finds that substitution dominates; the avoided radiative forcing due to substitution of PV for fossil fuels is approximately 30 times largerthan the forcing due to albedo modification. Sensitivity analysis, including discounting of future costs and benefits, identifies unfavorable yet plausible configurations in which the albedo effect substantially reduces the climatic benefits of PV. The value of PV as a climate mitigation option depends on how it is deployed, not just how much it is deployed--efficiency of PV systems and the carbon intensity of the substituted energy are particularly important
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Colección:
01-internacional
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Suministros de Energía Eléctrica
/
Efecto Invernadero
/
Ecosistema
/
Modelos Teóricos
Tipo de estudio:
Prognostic_studies
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Sci Technol
Año:
2009
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos