Solar thermal and photovoltaic energy are great allies for decontamination in cities.
They have the potential to support the transformation of urban centers into sustainable places, decreasing fine particulate matter and/or CO₂ emissions.
At Fraunhofer Chile, we advise you on the development of strategies and the design of solutions for incorporating these technologies and renewable energy sources.
District Heating is a heat supply system that provides heating and hot water to multiple buildings or areas within a community, replacing the need for individual heating systems in each building.
This centralized approach offers significant advantages in terms of energy efficiency, cost reduction, and the mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions.
In a district heating system, a central thermal plant or power station produces heat using diverse energy sources, such as biomass, geothermal energy, solar thermal energy, combined heat and power (CHP), or even industrial waste heat.
This heat is distributed through a network of underground pipes to connected buildings, where it is used for space heating and domestic hot water supply.
The main features and benefits of district heating include:
1. Energy efficiency:
By centralizing heat production in a single plant, economies of scale and higher generation efficiency can be achieved compared to operating multiple individual systems across different buildings.
2. Cost reduction:
District heating systems can lower energy costs for end-users by leveraging more economical and efficient energy sources and by sharing infrastructure costs among multiple users.
3. Flexibility in energy sources:
District heating systems can utilize a variety of energy sources, including renewables, allowing for greater diversification and energy resilience.
4. Emission reduction:
By utilizing cleaner and more efficient energy sources, district heating can significantly contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and other atmospheric pollutants compared to conventional heating systems.
Solar photovoltaic energy has evolved from a niche innovation into a reliable, mainstream technology recognized for its ease of deployment, cost-effectiveness, and immense potential for green energy generation, playing a crucial role in mitigating climate change.
Integrated Photovoltaics (Integrated PV) involves utilizing agricultural land or water surfaces for PV system installation.
Additionally, PV modules can now be aesthetically and functionally integrated into the exterior surfaces of buildings, roads, and vehicles.
Advances in technology and design allow for full customization of module formats and colors. Depending on the materials and equipment selected, these modules can offer specific properties such as minimal surface weight, high mechanical resistance, or varying degrees of light transmission.
Chile possesses exceptional potential for photovoltaic generation, driven by a world-class solar resource that ensures the economic viability of projects. Currently, the country’s solar PV capacity stands at 5.1 GWp, accounting for approximately 13% of the nation's electricity generation.
However, achieving national carbon neutrality requires a significant expansion of this capacity. This growth presents a spatial challenge: 1 GWp of PV capacity occupies roughly 1,000 hectares. Consequently, land-use conflicts between solar development and agriculture are emerging, particularly in the central and southern regions.
In addition to offering surface-neutral energy generation, Integrated PV enables electricity production in space-constrained environments. This allows energy to be generated exactly where it is needed—such as in the Santiago Metropolitan Region, where available land for conventional solar projects is scarce.
In this context, Integrated PV not only offers a solution to land-use conflicts but also creates valuable synergies, particularly through more efficient water usage and optimized spatial planning.
