Assessment of the renewable energies potential for intensive electricity production in the province of Jaén, southern Spain

• Published in: Renewable & sustainable energy reviews Vol. 16; no. 5; pp. 2994 - 3001
• Main Authors: Ruiz-Arias, J.A., Terrados, J., Pérez-Higueras, P., Pozo-Vázquez, D., Almonacid, G.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.06.2012; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Biomass; Energy; Exact sciences and technology; Photovoltaic energy; Regional development; Renewable energies; Wind energy; Spain, Andalucia, Jaen; Regional development; Wind energy; Renewable energies; Biomass; Photovoltaic energy
• ISSN: 1364-0321; 1879-0690
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rser.2012.02.006

The foreseen depletion of the traditional fossil fuels for the forthcoming decades is forcing us to seek for new sustainable and non-pollutant energy sources. Renewable energies rely on a decentralized scheme strongly dependent on the local resources availability. In this work, we tackle the study of the renewable energies potential for an intensive electricity production in the province of Jaén (southern Spain) which has a pronounced unbalance between its inner electricity production and consumption. The potential of biomass from olive pruning residues, solar photovoltaics (PV) and wind power has been analyzed using Geographical Information System tools, and a proposal for a massive implementation of renewable energies has been arisen. In particular, we propose the installation of 5 biomass facilities, totaling 98MW of power capacity, with an estimated annual production of 763GWh, 12 PV facilities, totaling 420MW of power capacity, with an estimated annual production of 656GWh and 506MW of wind power capacity in a number of wind farms, with an estimated annual production of 825GWh. Overall, this production frame would meet roughly a 75% of the electricity demands in the province and thus would mitigate the current unbalance.