Economic Assesment and Environmental-Social Aspects of Solar Cooling in Southern Iran

In this article, different kinds of solar cooling for residential usage are investigated. Different parts of all systems are selected according to the current technology and economic calculations based on different parameters are implemented. Besides the economic evaluation of these systems as a substitution for the current cooling systems, their environmental effects from the national point of view are considered and their social acceptance are explained. The systems being studied are chosen from both major classes of solar cooling systems (photovoltaic and thermal) and all the parameters influencing size and price are paid attention to. The other goal of this project is to help policy-makers, who develop the solar industry in the country, in investing in the proper technology in the area of solar cooling. Hence the southern regions of the country, which require the highest cooling load and have the most potential in capturing the solar energy during the year, are selected for analysis. The important point in choosing solar cooling is its high influence on the peak electricity consumption in the country in the hot days of the summer which is among the focus points of the government.