Home characterization for the socially inclusive development of residential solar energy in Argentina through the use of clustering methods

Abstract

We propose an analysis of the socio-economic and energy composition of Argentine households to provide information for defining solar energy development policies with an inclusive and social development perspective. To do this, we apply clustering methods and an analysis of big data (in particular k-means, two-step cluster, and an analysis of the main factors) in a database containing data from the National Institute of Statistics and Censuses, National Ministry of Energy, National Gas Regulatory Entity, Solar and Wind Energy Resource Assessment and National Renewable Energy Laboratory. As a result, households are revealed that share similar problems regarding access to energy and other fundamental rights, the impact of the cost of energy, and available solar resource. These groups have been mapped at the census tract level, the smallest geographic and analytical unit of the Argentine census. We conclude by defining action perspectives for the energetic and socially inclusive development of each of the groupings of rural and urban households.