How to cool a warming world? – The potential of photovoltaic green cooling with natural refrigerants in sunbelt countries

The study investigates the economic feasibility of photovoltaic-powered air-conditioning (AC) systems in thirteen different sunbelt countries. Two different technical solutions have been analysed: (i) hybrid (partially PV powered, grid-connected) and (ii) off-grid (fully PV powered, no grid connection). These two solutions have been studied for three different locations in each country, namely minimum, average and maximum annual global solar irradiation on the horizontal. Lastly, each solution and location has been examined for application in the residential and commercial sector. All solar-based air-conditioning scenarios use high efficiency AC appliances with R290 as refrigerant (Global Warming Potential – GWP of 1) and have been compared against a base-case scenario using AC units with moderate efficiency AC appliances with conventional R410a refrigerant (GWP of 2088) and 100 % grid electricity supply. The scope of the study is to identify the economic potential of solar PV cooling technologies. Levelized Cost of Electricity (LCOE) and Net Present Value (NPV) have been calculated for each scenario as part of the comparative analysis. It was found that hybrid photovoltaic-based air-conditioning for a residential house has a financial advantage over grid-based air-conditioning in eleven out of thirteen countries investigated. Exceptions are Ghana and Vietnam. Off-grid photovoltaic-based air-conditioning for residential houses is only economically feasible in five out of thirteen countries, namely Costa Rica, Iran, Grenada, Philippines and Thailand. Hybrid photovoltaic-based air-conditioning for a small commercial building has a financial advantage over grid-based air-conditioning in ten of thirteen countries, except in Colombia, Ghana and Iran. Off-grid photovoltaic-based air-conditioning for a small commercial building is only feasible in China, Grenada, Kenya and Philippines.