Solar Energy Potential Solar Energy Potential in British Columbiain British Columbia

Geography 376 ProjectGeography 376 Project

Alan WiebeAlan Wiebe

AbstractAbstract

Determine topographic suitability of Determine topographic suitability of small-scale solar energy in BCsmall-scale solar energy in BC

Identify remote areas in BC that are Identify remote areas in BC that are possibly well-suited for small-scale possibly well-suited for small-scale solar energysolar energy

IntroductionIntroduction

Three main categories of solar Three main categories of solar energy are:energy are:– Heating and cooling,Heating and cooling,– Producing electricity,Producing electricity,– Chemical processesChemical processes

IntroductionIntroduction

Advantages of solar energy over Advantages of solar energy over conventional sources:conventional sources:– Produced at nearly no chargeProduced at nearly no charge– Requires no connection to local gridRequires no connection to local grid– Unlimited energy supplyUnlimited energy supply– Produces no emissionsProduces no emissions– Displaces use of conventional energyDisplaces use of conventional energy– Open for all to harness!Open for all to harness!

IntroductionIntroduction

Three forms of solar energy (as per Three forms of solar energy (as per Natural Resources Canada):Natural Resources Canada):– Active solar energyActive solar energy

use of a medium (air, water)use of a medium (air, water)

– Passive solar energyPassive solar energystrategic placing of windowsstrategic placing of windows

– Photovoltaic energyPhotovoltaic energysemiconductor devicessemiconductor devicesenergy conversionenergy conversion

IntroductionIntroduction

Economic viabilityEconomic viability– most viable in remote locationsmost viable in remote locations– decreasing costs of productiondecreasing costs of production

(since 1980s)(since 1980s)

– approx. 1/6approx. 1/6thth of population of BC lives in of population of BC lives in rural areas (~600,000)rural areas (~600,000)

MethodologyMethodology

Data usedData used– 2001 Census data2001 Census data– Elevation data (DEM)Elevation data (DEM)– Roads, rail linesRoads, rail lines– Lakes, wetlands, parksLakes, wetlands, parks– Solar radiation (shortwavc.aml)Solar radiation (shortwavc.aml)

MethodologyMethodology

Area OmissionsArea Omissions– lakes, wetlands, parks (no buffer)lakes, wetlands, parks (no buffer)– roads, rail lines (buffered by 10m)roads, rail lines (buffered by 10m)

Methodology – Area OmissionsMethodology – Area Omissions

Methodology - Criteria EvaluationMethodology - Criteria Evaluation

AspectAspect– Scaled Aspect = [Cos(Aspect)+1]*5Scaled Aspect = [Cos(Aspect)+1]*5

Solar RadiationSolar Radiation– Average for yearAverage for year

Population DensityPopulation Density– Census Division (28)Census Division (28)

Transmission Line ProximityTransmission Line Proximity– Linear distance (up to 560 km)Linear distance (up to 560 km)

Methodology – Factor WeighingMethodology – Factor Weighing

Methodology – Factor WeighingMethodology – Factor Weighing

Methodology – Factor WeighingMethodology – Factor Weighing

Methodology – Factor WeighingMethodology – Factor Weighing

MethodologyMethodology

Ran 6 scenariosRan 6 scenarios– Assigning different weights to 4 Assigning different weights to 4

variablesvariables

Methodology – Model ComparisonMethodology – Model Comparison

DiscussionDiscussion

Data IssuesData Issues– Missing dataMissing data– Inconsistent/unknown age of setsInconsistent/unknown age of sets– Resolution (raster and vector)Resolution (raster and vector)– Solar radiation data – AML scriptSolar radiation data – AML script

DiscussionDiscussion

Criteria EvaluationCriteria Evaluation– Assumptions (linear/non-linear relations)Assumptions (linear/non-linear relations)– Low score-value rangeLow score-value range– Actual value classificationActual value classification

Possible ScenariosPossible Scenarios– Arbitrary factor weightsArbitrary factor weights

ResultsResults– Compounding errorsCompounding errors