Security assessment of importing solar electricity for the EU

Asif, M.; Currie, J.; Muneer, T.; Kubie, J.

Abstract

Prosperity in any society is subject to an adequate and consistent provision of energy. It is crucial
to adopt an energy strategy with least dependence on vulnerable energy supply channels such
as imported oil from foreign/overseas countries. The present work provides a study of the threats
and challenges to a secure energy supply to the EU. The work investigates the prospects of solar
photovoltaic (PV) systems to be employed to provide sustainable and secure energy within the
EU. Three potential locations, Sebha (Central Sahara), Bahrain (Arabian Gulf) and Almeria
(Southern Spain) have been compared for their energy output. It is shown that the average annual
global irradiance values for Sebha, Bahrain and Almeria are 6?9, 6?4 and 6?1 KWh m22
respectively. It is concluded that PV systems installed in Southern Spain, despite having lesser
energy output per square metre of installed modules as the other two locations’ output, are
however the most secure means of supplying solar photovoltaic energy within the EU.

Citation

Asif, M., Currie, J., Muneer, T., & Kubie, J. (2009). Security assessment of importing solar electricity for the EU. Journal of the Energy Institute, 82(2), 102-105. https://doi.org/10.1179/014426009x394008

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jun 1, 2009
• Deposit Date: Feb 9, 2016
• Print ISSN: 1743-9671
• Electronic ISSN: 1746-0220
• Publisher: Maney Publishing
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 82
• Issue: 2
• Pages: 102-105
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1179/014426009x394008
• Keywords: Energy security; Sustainable development; Renewable energy; Solar energy
• Public URL: http://researchrepository.napier.ac.uk/id/eprint/9511
• Publisher URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1179/014426009X394008