Basis for PV generated electricity in Stockholm : Potential and climate impact

The City of Stockholm has decided to invest in renewable energy and especially in photovoltaics. The objective of this thesis is to investigate the photovoltaic potential on roof areas that the city possesses and to further investigate some buildings of the Property Management Department. The thesis also compares some existing photovoltaic plants with the solar irradiance map which shows available roof area on each building in Stockholm. The report ends with a literature study about the climate impact and greenhouse gas emissions of photovoltaic. The total available roof area suitable for photovoltaic plants is estimated to 700 000 m2, with a potential electricity production of 110 GWh per year. This corresponds to 17 % of the City of Stockholm’s yearly electricity consumption. A selection of sport facilities and fire stations owned by the Property Management Department has been investigated and 13 of the 33 buildings have roof areas which are well suited for photovoltaics. The potential electricity production from these buildings is estimated to 1 050 MWh per year. The 5 existing plants investigated occupies on average 49 % of the roof area which is available according to the solar irradiance map. In a life cycle perspective, photovoltaics purchased on the global market are expected to cause greenhouse gas emissions of 45 g CO2-eq/kWh