Evaluating Access to Solar Energy in Light of a Just Energy Transition

38 Pages Posted: 6 Mar 2023

See all articles by Chiem Kraaijvanger

Chiem Kraaijvanger

Delft University of Technology

Trivik Verma

Delft University of Technology

Neelke Doorn

Delft University of Technology - Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management

Juliana Goncalves

Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment

Date Written: January 4, 2023

Abstract

Residential small-scale solar PV systems are expected to play an important role in reducing the current reliance on fossil fuels in the urban environment. However, not all households are equally capable of investing in solar PV technologies. Both the socioeconomic barriers in accessing renewable energy technology and the focus of solar energy policy on technology penetration rates alone has led to an oversight of equity concerns, disproportionately positioning households to have unequal access to participate in the renewable energy transition. This research aims to define and spatially assess the distribution of accessibility to residential solar PV systems across the urban environment, and evaluate how such access spatially intersects with rooftop solar potential. We observe significant patterns of spatial clustering regarding access to solar PV systems, aligning with the existing inequitable distribution of residential solar PV systems. Moreover, the majority of technical solar potential is located in areas where the capabilities of the population to access this potential are limited, indicating a significant amount of untapped potential in these areas. Analysing the intersection of accessibility to solar PV systems and rooftop solar potential will enhance understanding of where solar potential is more likely to be utilised and where households will need additional policy support to utilise this potential.

Keywords: Energy Transition, Energy Justice, Accessibility, Residential Solar PV, Solar PV Potential

Suggested Citation

Kraaijvanger, Chiem and Verma, Trivik and Doorn, Neelke and Goncalves, Juliana, Evaluating Access to Solar Energy in Light of a Just Energy Transition (January 4, 2023). Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=4375481 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.4375481

Chiem Kraaijvanger (Contact Author)

Delft University of Technology ( email )

P.O. Box 5015
2600 GB Delft
Netherlands

Trivik Verma

Delft University of Technology ( email )

Stevinweg 1
Stevinweg 1
Delft, 2628 CN
Netherlands

Neelke Doorn

Delft University of Technology - Faculty of Technology, Policy and Management ( email )

P.O. Box 5015
2600 GB Delft
Netherlands

Juliana Goncalves

Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment ( email )

Netherlands

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