Evaluating environmental–economic efficiency in utility-scale solar energy systems: Evidence from India and Jordan

Type of the article: Research ArticleAbstractAligning environmental objectives with economic performance is an ongoing challenge in the renewable energy transition, especially in emerging solar markets facing operational inefficiencies and uneven policy implementation. This paper examines the environmental and economic efficiency of large-scale solar energy conversion projects by employing a Material Flow Cost Accounting methodology based on ISO 14051 standards. Based on the operating and financial performance data of 83 solar energy conversion projects (46 from India and 37 from Jordan) covering the period 2017–2023, avoidable energy loss costs due to dust settling, heat stress, grid curtailment, and plant downtime have been estimated and quantified cumulatively in both settings. The findings indicate a technical efficiency of 88.4% and 77.9% with an average energy loss potential of 128 and 274 gigawatt-hours per year in both settings of Jordan and India, respectively, causing an economic loss potential of 9.2% and 18.7%, respectively, collectively amounting to a financial loss potential of about 54.6 million annually. Systematic plant maintenance and coordinated use in electric grids increased output potential by about 16% and lowered costs by 13%, with efficient management options collectively leading to an 11.5% increase in financial returns in Jordan and a 19.3% boost in India’s financial performance. Based on findings, MFCA methodology is indeed capable of interlinking environmental protection with economic performance for efficient, sustainable energy policymaking within developing nations.