IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/energy/v176y2019icp184-194.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Solar and wind energy: Challenges and solutions in desert regions

Author

Listed:
  • Al-Dousari, Ali
  • Al-Nassar, Waleed
  • Al-Hemoud, Ali
  • Alsaleh, Abeer
  • Ramadan, Ashraf
  • Al-Dousari, Noor
  • Ahmed, Modi

Abstract

In desert regions, several environmental challenges have the potential to reduce solar energy production. These are the formation of thinly crusted mud and/or carbonates coatings caused from deposited dust aerosols during humid conditions and other weather conditions. These challenges that profoundly affect photovoltaic panel surfaces as well as wind turbines were delineated to conclude the potential feasibility to establish solar and/or wind energy systems in Kuwait. The study concluded that photovoltaic (PV) cells are not the most suitable energy source for Kuwait due to the above mentioned environmental challenges; therefore, alternative renewable energy sources are considered more feasible. After one year of operation at solar units and wind farms in Kuwait, the results clearly show that wind energy records energy production numbers that exceed the industry average. This was associated with high capacity factors throughout the year, resulting in an annual power production that is 2.3 times higher than that of PV; powering 450 homes compared to 199 homes for PV. West of the state of Kuwait and the Bubiyan Island are the recommended potential sites for wind farm establishment.

Suggested Citation

  • Al-Dousari, Ali & Al-Nassar, Waleed & Al-Hemoud, Ali & Alsaleh, Abeer & Ramadan, Ashraf & Al-Dousari, Noor & Ahmed, Modi, 2019. "Solar and wind energy: Challenges and solutions in desert regions," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 176(C), pages 184-194.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:176:y:2019:i:c:p:184-194
    DOI: 10.1016/j.energy.2019.03.180
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360544219306000
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.energy.2019.03.180?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Kazem, Hussein A. & Chaichan, Miqdam T., 2012. "Status and future prospects of renewable energy in Iraq," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 16(8), pages 6007-6012.
    2. Bou-Rabee, Mohammed & Sulaiman, Shaharin A. & Saleh, Magdy Saad & Marafi, Suhaila, 2017. "Using artificial neural networks to estimate solar radiation in Kuwait," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 434-438.
    3. Bakirci, Kadir, 2009. "Correlations for estimation of daily global solar radiation with hours of bright sunshine in Turkey," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 34(4), pages 485-501.
    4. Afsharzade, Nashmil & Papzan, Abdolhamid & Ashjaee, Mehdi & Delangizan, Sohrab & Van Passel, Steven & Azadi, Hossein, 2016. "Renewable energy development in rural areas of Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 743-755.
    5. Ramadhan, Mohammad & Naseeb, Adel, 2011. "The cost benefit analysis of implementing photovoltaic solar system in the state of Kuwait," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(4), pages 1272-1276.
    6. Charabi, Yassine & Gastli, Adel, 2011. "PV site suitability analysis using GIS-based spatial fuzzy multi-criteria evaluation," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 36(9), pages 2554-2561.
    7. Alnaser, W.E. & Almohanadi, A.H., 1990. "Wind and solar energy in Qatar," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 15(10), pages 931-934.
    8. Ali Al-Dousari & Domenico Doronzo & Modi Ahmed, 2017. "Types, Indications and Impact Evaluation of Sand and Dust Storms Trajectories in the Arabian Gulf," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(9), pages 1-14, August.
    9. Sarver, Travis & Al-Qaraghuli, Ali & Kazmerski, Lawrence L., 2013. "A comprehensive review of the impact of dust on the use of solar energy: History, investigations, results, literature, and mitigation approaches," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 22(C), pages 698-733.
    10. Muneer, T. & Younes, S. & Munawwar, S., 2007. "Discourses on solar radiation modeling," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 11(4), pages 551-602, May.
    11. Al-Hasan, Ahmad Y., 1997. "Electricity generation cost between proposed photovoltaic station and conventional units in Kuwait," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 12(3), pages 291-301.
    12. Alnaser, W.E., 1989. "Calculation of the surface albedo of Bahrain from solar energy data," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 14(9), pages 551-556.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Alami Merrouni, Ahmed & Elwali Elalaoui, Fakhreddine & Mezrhab, Ahmed & Mezrhab, Abdelhamid & Ghennioui, Abdellatif, 2018. "Large scale PV sites selection by combining GIS and Analytical Hierarchy Process. Case study: Eastern Morocco," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 119(C), pages 863-873.
    2. Edalati, Saeed & Ameri, Mehran & Iranmanesh, Masoud & Sadeghi, Zeinolabedin, 2017. "Solar photovoltaic power plants in five top oil-producing countries in Middle East: A case study in Iran," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 1271-1280.
    3. Alshawaf, Mohammad & Poudineh, Rahmatallah & Alhajeri, Nawaf S., 2020. "Solar PV in Kuwait: The effect of ambient temperature and sandstorms on output variability and uncertainty," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 134(C).
    4. Prieto, Jesús-Ignacio & García, David, 2022. "Global solar radiation models: A critical review from the point of view of homogeneity and case study," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 155(C).
    5. Sun, Yan-wei & Hof, Angela & Wang, Run & Liu, Jian & Lin, Yan-jie & Yang, De-wei, 2013. "GIS-based approach for potential analysis of solar PV generation at the regional scale: A case study of Fujian Province," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 58(C), pages 248-259.
    6. Abdullahi Abubakar Mas’ud & Asan Vernyuy Wirba & Saud J. Alshammari & Firdaus Muhammad-Sukki & Mu’azu Mohammed Abdullahi & Ricardo Albarracín & Mohammed Ziaul Hoq, 2018. "Solar Energy Potentials and Benefits in the Gulf Cooperation Council Countries: A Review of Substantial Issues," Energies, MDPI, vol. 11(2), pages 1-20, February.
    7. Sabo, Mahmoud Lurwan & Mariun, Norman & Hizam, Hashim & Mohd Radzi, Mohd Amran & Zakaria, Azmi, 2017. "Spatial matching of large-scale grid-connected photovoltaic power generation with utility demand in Peninsular Malaysia," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 663-688.
    8. Vrînceanu, Alexandra & Dumitrașcu, Monica & Kucsicsa, Gheorghe, 2022. "Site suitability for photovoltaic farms and current investment in Romania," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 187(C), pages 320-330.
    9. Abolhosseini, Shahrouz & Heshmati, Almas & Altmann, Jörn, 2014. "A Review of Renewable Energy Supply and Energy Efficiency Technologies," IZA Discussion Papers 8145, Institute of Labor Economics (IZA).
    10. Alexandru Pîrjan & Simona-Vasilica Oprea & George Căruțașu & Dana-Mihaela Petroșanu & Adela Bâra & Cristina Coculescu, 2017. "Devising Hourly Forecasting Solutions Regarding Electricity Consumption in the Case of Commercial Center Type Consumers," Energies, MDPI, vol. 10(11), pages 1-36, October.
    11. Juaidi, Adel & Montoya, Francisco G. & Ibrik, Imad H. & Manzano-Agugliaro, Francisco, 2016. "An overview of renewable energy potential in Palestine," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 65(C), pages 943-960.
    12. Zhang, Minhui & Zhang, Qin & Zhou, Dequn & Wang, Lei, 2021. "Punishment or reward? Strategies of stakeholders in the quality of photovoltaic plants based on evolutionary game analysis in China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    13. Alkharusi, Tarik & Huang, Gan & Markides, Christos N., 2024. "Characterisation of soiling on glass surfaces and their impact on optical and solar photovoltaic performance," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 220(C).
    14. Mecibah, Mohamed Salah & Boukelia, Taqiy Eddine & Tahtah, Reda & Gairaa, Kacem, 2014. "Introducing the best model for estimation the monthly mean daily global solar radiation on a horizontal surface (Case study: Algeria)," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 36(C), pages 194-202.
    15. Finn, Thomas & McKenzie, Paul, 2020. "A high-resolution suitability index for solar farm location in complex landscapes," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 158(C), pages 520-533.
    16. Al-Amri, Fahad & Saeed, Farooq & Mujeebu, Muhammad Abdul, 2022. "Novel dual-function racking structure for passive cooling of solar PV panels –thermal performance analysis," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 100-113.
    17. Saidan, Motasem & Albaali, Abdul Ghani & Alasis, Emil & Kaldellis, John K., 2016. "Experimental study on the effect of dust deposition on solar photovoltaic panels in desert environment," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 92(C), pages 499-505.
    18. Rômulo de Oliveira Azevêdo & Paulo Rotela Junior & Luiz Célio Souza Rocha & Gianfranco Chicco & Giancarlo Aquila & Rogério Santana Peruchi, 2020. "Identification and Analysis of Impact Factors on the Economic Feasibility of Photovoltaic Energy Investments," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-40, September.
    19. Fabiana Lisco & Farwah Bukhari & Soňa Uličná & Kenan Isbilir & Kurt L. Barth & Alan Taylor & John M. Walls, 2020. "Degradation of Hydrophobic, Anti-Soiling Coatings for Solar Module Cover Glass," Energies, MDPI, vol. 13(15), pages 1-15, July.
    20. Griffiths, Steven, 2017. "A review and assessment of energy policy in the Middle East and North Africa region," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 102(C), pages 249-269.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:energy:v:176:y:2019:i:c:p:184-194. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.journals.elsevier.com/energy .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.