Béla Curtius
One of the key areas of transformation for a change towards a more sustainable future in Durango is the energy supply. Mexico as well as Victoria de Durango, the capital of the state of Durango, are heavily dependent on fossil fuels in its total energy mix. Nearly 90% of the total Mexican energy supply comes from fossil fuel sources. The major source of energy is oil that also makes up the biggest part of the domestic oil production (63%) in Mexico. For many years, oil has been a major driver of economic prosperity and economic growth in Mexico. At the same time, it has caused displacement and environmental damages.
Since the adoption of the Paris Climate Agreement by the latest, it has been clear that fossil fuels must be replaced by renewable energies in a radical shift. Luckily, Mexico is an ideal location for the production of solar energy on a large scale. In 2018, a paper published by the “Deutsch-mexikanische Industrie- und Handelskammer” describes Mexico as a region with excellent conditions for solar power. The only problem, so far, only 5% of the potential of solar power in Mexico is being used. Among those regions that have the highest solar power potential in Mexico is the state of Durango. The capital of the state, Victoria de Durango, has in average 3669 sun hours per year more than twice the amount of average sun hours in Freiburg im Breisgau, Germany’s sunniest city. The solar power potential of Victoria de Durango can also be measured in the annual power output of solar energy per square metre. In Victoria de Durango, 2713 kilowatt hours of electricity can be produced on a square meter per year compared to Freiburg with an annual power output of 1175 kilowatt hours of electricity per square meters. In a nutshell, the solar power potential of Victoria de Durango is more than twice as big as the solar power potential in Freiburg.
For Victoria de Durango this means that large parts of the energy supply could be substituted with solar power. This is made easier by the fact that solar energy has many practical advantages:
Solar Energy is one of the cheapest energy sources. Compared to coal power or nuclear power, the electricity cost per 1 kilowatt hour of solar energy is incredibly cheap.
Solar Energy can be easily installed. Everywhere where’s open space, solar panels can be installed. No big power stations need to be built.
The main raw material for solar power is one of the most abundant elements worldwide. The main raw material for solar power is Silicon. For a solar panel, this Silicon must be in a very pure form. However, Silicon is in form of normal sand one of the most abundant raw materials worldwide.
For cities, the most widespread use of solar panels is on house roofs. Other spaces that could be covered with solar panels are car parking slots and alongside streets.
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