The clean technology that shines ever brighter

Various situations related to climate change that are happening around the world tell us that today more than ever we must prioritize actions against the climate crisis. While climate change is an irrefutable fact, it is also a fact that it is not yet too late to stop its progress (United Nations [UN], 2019).

Fortunately, there are actions that individuals, companies, organizations and governments can implement to ensure a prosperous future. These actions, according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), “fall into one of two broad categories: adaptation to climate change and mitigation of climate change. These terms go hand in hand as we navigate through climate crises, but they mean very different things” (World Wide Fund for Nature [WWF], 2019).

La climate change mitigation means avoiding and reducing greenhouse gas emissions into the atmosphere. The more we reduce emissions right now, the easier it will be to adapt to changes that we can no longer avoid (World Wide Fund for Nature [WWF], 2019). Thus, this term “can refer to the use of new technologies and renewable energies, the increase in the energy efficiency of old equipment or the change in management practices or consumer behavior” (United Nations Environment Program [UNEP], 2019).

Next, our attention will focus on one of the different ways to mitigate climate change through a technology: photovoltaic modules or panels. It will also consider its relationship with scope 2 emissions, a class of emissions that will be explained later in this text, and how the use of this technology can be adapted to a strategy for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

The potential of photovoltaic energy

A photovoltaic module is made up of multiple solar cells whose function is to absorb sunlight and convert their energy into electricity. Several modules connected together can provide the electrical energy needed for rural, urban and even space applications.

Aspects such as research, the feasibility of small and large scale use, and mass production processes that have reduced production costs, have resulted in a mature, reliable and long-lasting technology (Sánchez et al. 2017). In addition to the above, photovoltaic modules have the advantage of not using fuels since they operate with sunlight, and they do not produce greenhouse gas emissions such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide during the energy conversion process (Sánchez et al. 2017).

To demonstrate the mitigation potential of photovoltaic solar energy, a simple exercise can be replicated. But first we must provide some previous data for its realization:

According to the National Electric System Development Program (Prodesen) 2021-2035 (Secretariat of Energy [SENER], 2021), 365 MW of electrical power was added in 2020 from Distributed Photovoltaic Generation (the name given to the generation of electrical energy locally for self-consumption), which represented approximately an energy of 334,000 MWh (it is more typical to see the term kWh in our electricity bills, just remember that 1 MWh is equivalent to 1000 kWh).

The emission factor of the national electricity system in the same year was 494 grams of carbon dioxide equivalent per kilowatt-hour of electricity consumed (494 g CO2e/kWh). It is more common to find this term in official documents in tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per megawatt-hour or 0.494 t CO2e/MWh (Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources [Semarnat], 2021).

With these data, if we take the energy produced and multiply it by the emission factor of the national electricity system, we obtain that During 2020, 164,996 tCO2e were prevented from being emitted into the atmosphere, which would be equivalent to going back and forth, in first class, from Mexico City to Delhi, India 8,643 times (Offsetters, 2021).

This calculation varies from year to year, and according to Prodesen, the growth projections of installed capacity in 2035 for Distributed Photovoltaic Generation in Mexico are between 6 and 9 times more compared to 2020, so new photovoltaic systems are expected to be installed in the coming years in our country.

The path to be traced

Recently, the International Energy Agency (IEA) published one of the most important reports in the history of this organization: “Net Zero by 2050 - A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector” (International Energy Agency [IEA], 2021). This document outlines a detailed and cost-effective route to bring global energy-related emissions to net zero and thus have an opportunity to limit global warming to 1.5°C.

According to the scenarios proposed in this report, the key pillars of the decarbonization of the global energy system are energy efficiency, behavioral changes, electrification, Renewable energies, hydrogen and hydrogen-based fuels, bioenergy and CO2 capture, use and storage (CCUS) technology. In the context of photovoltaic solar energy, the following scenarios are established.

- Onsite photovoltaic solar energy is currently installed on around 25 million roofs around the world; this number must increase to 100 million roofs by 2030 and 240 million by 2050.

- Nearly 70% of global electricity generation in 2050 must come from photovoltaic and wind solar energy.

As can be seen, the growth of photovoltaic solar energy is not only at the regional level, but also at the global level. In addition, it plays an important role in the process of decarbonizing the energy sector along with other mitigation measures.

First things first

More companies are formalizing their emission reduction goals or climate commitments. This is done either by state regulations or to meet environmental, social and governance goals in an organization. One way in which this formalization is reflected is when the emission reduction objectives are published in the Science Based Targets (SBTi) initiative (Science Based Targets initiative [SBTi], 2021).

However, to set a reduction objective in a concrete and effective way, it is first necessary to know our emissions. Greenhouse gases are emitted from different sources and for reporting and accounting purposes, are classified as scope 1, 2 and 3 emissions.

According to the corporate accounting and reporting standard of the Greenhouse Gas Protocol (WBCSD and WRI, 2005), scope 1 emissions are direct emissions that occur owned or controlled by a company. On the other hand, Scope 2 emissions are indirect emissions associated with energy purchased and consumed by the company. Finally, scope 3 emissions are also indirect emissions, but they occur in the value chain as a result of a company's activities.

Knowing this, you will now be familiar when a company announces its reduction targets by a specific percentage by a certain year. In the same way, it now makes much more sense to mention that, with the implementation of photovoltaic systems, less electrical energy is purchased from the grid, considerably reducing scope 2 emissions.

How can companies take advantage of this technology and be part of the actions to be carbon-neutral? Toroto offers the design of an emissions reduction strategy, while its ally Enlight offers one of the most cost-effective forms of climate mitigation today, solar panels and energy storage systems.

To learn more Check out the webinar What did we have with Enlight.

References

International Energy Agency (IEA). (2021, May). Net Zero by 2050 - A Roadmap for the Global Energy Sector. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://iea.blob.core.windows.net/assets/beceb956-0dcf-4d73-89fe-1310e3046d68/NetZeroby2050-ARoadmapfortheGlobalEnergySector_CORR.pdf

United Nations (UN). (2019). The climate crisis - a race we can win. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://www.un.org/es/un75/climate-crisis-race-we-can-win

Offsetters. (2021). Flight Emissions Calculator. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://www.offsetters.ca/education/calculators/flight-emissions-calculator

United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). (2019). Mitigation. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://www.unep.org/es/explore-topics/climate-change/what-we-do/mitigacion

Sanchez A., Martinez D., De la Luz Santos R., Ortega J., & Sanchez P. (2017). Overview of photovoltaic applications. In Photovoltaic applications of solar energy in the residential, service and industrial sectors (pp. 30-32). Mexico City: National Autonomous University of Mexico.

Secretariat of Energy (SENER). (2021, June 30). National Electric System Development Program 2021-2035. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://www.gob.mx/sener/articulos/programa-para-el-desarrollo-del-sistema-electrico-nacional

Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat). (2021, April 16). National Electricity System Emission Factor 2020. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://www.gob.mx/cms/uploads/attachment/file/630693/Aviso_FEE_2020.pdf

Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi). (2021). Companies taking action. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://sciencebasedtargets.org/companies-taking-action#table

World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF). (2019). What's the difference between climate change mitigation and adaptation?. Retrieved September 27, 2021, from https://www.worldwildlife.org/stories/what-s-the-difference-between-climate-change-mitigation-and-adaptation

World Business Council for Sustainable Development (WBCSD), & World Resource Institute (WRI). (2005). Determination of Operational Limits. In Greenhouse Gas Protocol - Corporate Accounting and Reporting Standard (pp. 29). Mexico City: Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources (Semarnat).