Wind and solar power as possible energy alternatives in peripheral high mountains? Insights from the Eastern Pamirs of Tajikistan

Title data

Zandler, Harald ; Morche, Thomas ; Samimi, Cyrus:
Wind and solar power as possible energy alternatives in peripheral high mountains? Insights from the Eastern Pamirs of Tajikistan.
In: Sustainable Development of Mountain Territories. Vol. 9 (2017) Issue 4 . - pp. 343-354.
ISSN 2499-975X
DOI: https://doi.org/10.21177/1998-4502-2017-9-4-343-354

Project information

Abstract in another language

Wind energy, solar energy and their hybrid use are frequently considered as solutions for energy provision in the periphery of developing countries. This is also true for the arid mountains of the Eastern Pamirs of Tajikistan, where a high potential of respective renewables is expected due to the geographical characteristics. However, the failure of renewable energy projects in comparable regions and the complex topography of mountains introduce the need for preceding assessments of renewable energy resources. Therefore, we analyzed the potential, cost and synergy of wind and solar energy for electricity generation in three local villages. Methodologically, measured climate data, a solar atlas, a scenario of energy requirements, current prices for energy components and literature derived calculation methods were used to allow for an integrative evaluation of potential energy projects. Centralized solar photovoltaic systems resulted in the lowest cost (US$ 3,653 - 4,798 per household), followed by decentralized photovoltaic applications, which amounted to an approximate doubling of the budget to meet minimum energy requirements for basic applications. Wind energy systems were connected to a much higher investment cost (US$ 24,453 – 74,151 per household), which may be regarded as not feasible compared to current budgets of regional energy projects. The analysis of solar radiation and wind speed showed largely similar variations over time indicating low potential for hybrid applications of these resources. We suggest that solar photovoltaic systems, in contrast to wind power, have a high potential as energy alternative in the Eastern Pamirs and comparable mountain areas. The presented method is easily applicable to other regions as a pre-assessment tool to minimize failures of renewable energy projects for sustainable development.