Assessment of Photovoltaic Potential of Mining Sites in Uzbekistan
Department of Energy Resources Engineering, Pukyong National University, Busan 48513, Korea
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Sustainability 2019, 11(10), 2988; https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102988
Received: 26 April 2019 / Revised: 22 May 2019 / Accepted: 22 May 2019 / Published: 26 May 2019
(This article belongs to the Section Energy Sustainability)
The present study analyzed the potential of eight operational mining sites in Uzbekistan for the installation of photovoltaic (PV) systems: Sarmich, Ingichka, Kuytosh, Yakhton, Chauli, Sherobod, Chorkesar, and Tebinbuloq. A PV system with 1 MW capacity, which required a total of 4926 m2 of project land, was considered. The renewable energy analysis software RETScreen, developed by Natural Resources Canada (NRC), was used to calculate energy production, greenhouse gas reduction, and financial factors of the PV systems in the selected study areas. The iron mine Tebinbuloq in Karakalpak showed the highest potential, with annual electricity production of approximately 1685 MWh, equating to a potential reduction of approximately 930 tons of greenhouse gases. The economic benefit of the PV system in this mine was $2.217 million USD net present value with a project payback period of approximately 13 years. The results of precision checks of satellite- and ground-based solar measurements showed high correlations; hence, satellite-based data can be applied for solar project assessments where solar monitoring meteorological stations are not available.
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Keywords:
photovoltaic system; solar energy; mining industry; renewable energy
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MDPI and ACS Style
Mardonova, M.; Choi, Y. Assessment of Photovoltaic Potential of Mining Sites in Uzbekistan. Sustainability 2019, 11, 2988. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102988
AMA Style
Mardonova M, Choi Y. Assessment of Photovoltaic Potential of Mining Sites in Uzbekistan. Sustainability. 2019; 11(10):2988. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102988
Chicago/Turabian StyleMardonova, Mokhinabonu, and Yosoon Choi. 2019. "Assessment of Photovoltaic Potential of Mining Sites in Uzbekistan" Sustainability 11, no. 10: 2988. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11102988
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