The potential contribution of solar thermal electricity (STE) in the light of the Paris Agreements

The Paris Agreement is the first universal treaty on climate change that aims to embrace all states. Mexico’s Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDC) emission reduction targets demonstrate its endorsement to this Agreement and its commitment to address climate change. Mexican authorities have indicated that those technologies that simultaneously derive in reducing environmental impacts as well as in health and well-being co-benefits for the population should be given priority. In this context, this work applies the Framework for Integrated Sustainability Assessment (FISA) to analyze the impacts on the three sustainability dimensions associated to an alternative electricity mix scenario in which Natural Gas Combined Cycle (NGCC) electricity production in Mexico is partially substituted by Solar Thermal Electricity (STE). Results show that the substitution of 9.5 TWh of NGCC electricity by STE implies a reduction of 6 Mt of CO2eq emissions. Furthermore, positive socioeconomic impacts throughout the value chain would be produced in terms of an additionally added value creation in $87 million and $35 million generated in terms of new incomes. Finally, also as a result of this substitution, some existing social risks in Mexico would be reduced. In this way, results from the sustainability performance conducted in this work indicate that decision makers should pay more attention to the potential role and associated benefits that STE could play in the future Mexican electricity mix.