Potential energy saving in urban and rural households of Mexico with solar photovoltaic systems using geographical information system

The worldwide development of photovoltaic technology has achieved economic maturity, which currently suggests that it can be implemented on a large scale in developing countries. Mexico is a privileged country in terms of its solar resource availability. However, it also has tremendous challenges, which it must encounter in the medium term to promote pollution emission reduction and support strategies contributing to sustainable development. Therefore, in this study, we verified the state-of-the-art implementation of an interconnected photovoltaic system network and reviewed the current legislation for photovoltaic energy in Mexico. Besides, we performed an energy savings analysis for solar photovoltaic technology implementation on a large scale in urban and rural homes in Mexico by using the Geographic Information System. The results showed potential for energy savings with the use of an interconnected photovoltaic system network at a large-scale. Based on the information processed through 187,719 urban and 4,525 rural locations, it could be inferred that in Mexico, each household needs four photovoltaic panels on average to satisfy its energy requirements. Thus, even with implementation in homes alone, the country could achieve energy savings of an estimated 39,750 GWh, equivalent to 20.27 Tg of CO2 avoided emissions, i.e., 3% of the annual national emissions. •In Mexico, an average of 4 panels per home are needed.•Energy savings by use of photovoltaic panels are estimated 39,750 GWh, equivalent to 20.27 Tg of CO2 avoided emissions, i.e., 3% of the annual national emissions.•This implies that approximately 115 million panels can potentially be placed in the homes throughout Mexico.•The maps of solar radiation are show by season and radiation by locality (urban and rural).