Bolivia photovoltaic power generation and energy storage system

Should Bolivia use solar energy to generate synthetic fuels?

Using Bolivia’s own excellent solar resources to generate synthetic fuels in BPS-1 and BPS-2 would result in energy independence and security. Due to the lack of GHG emission costs in BPS-3 fuel costs remain for the fossil fuels used in the heat and transport sectors. Fig. 23.

What type of energy system does Bolivia use?

Similar to the country’s total energy system, the power sector relies heavily on natural gas (AEtN, 2016). The electricity network in Bolivia is broken into two classifications: the National Interconnected System (SIN) and the Isolated Systems (SAs).

Will Electric based heating drive the transition in Bolivia?

Heating demand in Bolivia transitions from a system dominated by natural gas and biomass to a largely electrified heating sector. Because of the low cost of renewable electricity, electric based heating will drive the transition for Bolivia’s heat sector. Fig. 13.

What will be Bolivia's energy transition?

This transition for Bolivia would be driven by solar PV based electricity and high electrification across all energy sectors.

How much solar power does Bolivia have?

In the study of Jacobson et al. (2017), Bolivia’s all-purpose end load would be covered by 22% wind energy, 15% geothermal, 3% hydropower, 49% solar PV, and 10% CSP. For the whole of South America, Löffler et al. (2017), find roughly 40% shares of both hydropower and solar PV, with the remaining 10% covered by wind offshore and onshore.

Can solar PV reduce energy poverty in Bolivia?

These efficiency savings can be estimated to about 22%, 14%, and 26% for BPS-1, BPS-2, and BPS-3, respectively. Furthermore, large-scale development of solar PV, particularly in off-grid communities, can serve to reduce energy poverty in Bolivia (Sovacool, 2012).