Harnessing the Sun: revolutionizing the industrial sector with solar-powered roofs

ABSTRACT

The industrial sector is one of the main energy consumers in the developed world, accounting in the case of Europe for over 20% of the total consumed energy. Especially in countries of high solar potential, like the case of southern Europe, industrial roofs offer an alternative for the production of green energy, with the use of photovoltaic (PV) technology, considered to be one of the most mature applications at this time point. This work examines the capacity of industrial roofs to meet part of the energy needs of the industrial sector with PV installations. Specifically, in the context of this work, GIS techniques were utilized to quantify the total solar potential of industrial roofs, as well as their capacity for energy production. Technical, environmental, and economic indicators related to the processing of the findings of the work, as well as the definition of a policy framework, are extracted and discussed. The object of the work was the energy system of a southern island state of the European Union, the Republic of Cyprus, where all the conditions for a favorable framework for the promotion of industrial solar roofs are met. The study reveals that photovoltaic (PV) installations on Cyprus’s industrial roofs have the potential to generate 443.2 GWh annually, meeting 19% of the industrial sector’s energy needs, and reducing CO₂ emissions by over 250 k tons per year, highlighting a substantial opportunity for decarbonization and economic investment in renewable energy. This study aspires to provide food for thought, for future work that will be implemented in this context, enabling the establishment of industrial roofs as a potential contributor to policies for adapting to the energy requirements of the era. The novelty of this research lies in its utilization of GIS techniques to quantify the solar potential and energy production capacity of industrial roofs, specifically in the context of the Republic of Cyprus, thereby contributing to the development of a policy framework for leveraging industrial solar roofs in energy strategies.

KEYWORDS:

• photovoltaics
• industrial sector
• energy mix
• solar roof
• industrial roof

Acknowledgements

The authors wish to acknowledge the financial support for the implementation of this study from the project Consultancy for the Elaboration of a Study for the Ministry of Energy of the Republic of Cyprus on the preparation of a methodology for the calculation of Renewable Energy from solar water heating systems and/or space and the benefits arising from the replacement of aged solar thermal panels and systems (ΥEEB/ΥE/06/2021).

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data accessibility

“Dataset for assessing the potential of industrial solar roof(Pyrgou)s in an insular island-state,” Mendeley Data, V1, doi: 10.17632/tr8ztvhbw4.1

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Antony John Mouzas

Antony John Mouzas is an environmental engineer and MSc graduate of the Sustainable Energy Systems program at the Open University of Cyprus, specializing in sustainable and efficient energy solutions.

Nicholas Afxentiou

Nicholas Afxentiou is a PhD candidate at Frederick University’s Sustainable Energy Research Group and a mechanical engineer, focused on computational engineering and sustainable energy technologies.

Vilma Kriaučiūnaitė-Neklejonovienė

Vilma Kriaučiūnaitė-Neklejonovienė is an academic at Kaunas University of Technology with a focus on rural development, geodesy, and cartography.

Donatas Rekus

Donatas Rekus is an Associate Professor at Kaunas University of Technology with a research interest in engineering geodesy, 3D scanning, and geodetic networks, boasting a long-term tenure and a significant professional network.

Paris A Fokaides

Paris A Fokaides is an Associate Professor and Senior Researcher at Frederick University and Frederick Research Center, Cyprus, with extensive experience in sustainable energy research and a notable presence in the global scientific community.