Objective
The scope of the project is the selection of all useful information and the development of the appropriate methodology for the effective exploitation of renewable energy sources in the Crete island. Biomass and solar energy exploitation is the main research area of the project. Wind and hydro energy have been analyzed in other parallel studies and their results were incorporated in the present project.
The Analysis includes the following subjects, which constitute in that order the phases of the project:
1. Biomass and solar energy sources and potential.
2. Biomass and solar energy exploitation technologies.
3. Possibilities for effective use of biomass and solar energy.
4. Technical and economical evaluation of the suggesting technologies.
5. Integrated analysis for the renewable energy exploitation in Crete.
Phase 1. Biomass and solar energy sources and potential.
Most of the data collected have their origin at official sources of a national or a local level. Data also were collected for the needs of this project, and statistical sampling techniques were used. Information was gathered from specialists in the relative subjects. In any case a great uncertainty is related to these data and therefore statistical methods were used to analyze the uncertainty of the results. The useful energy potential from biomass is estimated up to 11,000 TJ/yr, which corresponds to 50% of the total useful energy demand in Crete. The above useful energy will be produced by agricultural residues in the form of 340,000 tn/yr of olive branches, 150,000 tn/yr of vines, 140,000 tn/yr of olive cake, 250,000 tn/yr of shrub and 95,000 tn/yr of future energy plantations. The estimated maximum possible useful energy from solar systems is estimated to 13,000 TJ/yr. This result takes into account the solar energy data from Crete and the estimated available area for solar collectors.
Phase 2. Biomass and solar energy exploitation technologies.
Regional energy demand was estimated and the crucial parameters determining its magnitude were identified. The total energy demand was estimated to be 22,000 TJ/yr, which is distributed in the following sectors: 39% residence, 9% agriculture, 8% industry, 3% tourism, 2% services, and 39% transportation.
Renewable energy exploitation technologies are also examined. The examined technologies refer to commercial as well as to demonstration or experimental state of art. Biomass exploitation corresponds to bio furnace, bio stove heating, bio space heating systems, bio greenhouse heating systems, bio electric power generation systems. Solar energy exploitation corresponds to solar water heating, solar space heating, solar air cooling, solar greenhouse heating, solar drying, and solar electric power generation. For each technology the energy efficiency and the required size of installation for typical applications was estimated.
Phase 3. Possibilities for effective use of biomass and solar energy.
The possibilities for effective use of the selected technologies are estimated. The extend of possible application determines the magnitude of the expected manufacturing industry at local level. The analysis was based on an regional energy model which incorporates the renewable energy potential data, the energy demand data and the technology models. A 'feasible' scenario suggests that the biomass penetration to useful energy balance is between 23-30%, and the solar energy penetration is in the range 7-20%. The necessary equipment as well as the size of the required local manufacturing industry were estimated.
Phase 4. Technical and economical evaluation of the suggesting technologies.
The most promising technologies for biomass and solar energy exploitation were evaluated. A process model and a financial model is considered for each technology. The required equipment, the optimal operating conditions and the cost for the produced energy are estimated. Sensitivity analysis is also performed for various cases.
Phase 5. Integrated analysis for the renewable energy exploitation in Crete.
The synthesis of the results of the previous phases concerning bio and solar energy with the results of existing analogous studies on hydro and wind energy towards the energy planning at region level is the main goal of the Phase 5. The analysis is based on the assumption that the renewable energy penetration is significant when the various alternative technologies are competitive to conventional technologies. Competitiveness is assumed to be regulated by the subsidy policy towards the alternative technologies. In other words energy planning at region level can be carried out by appropriate subsidy policy.
In the case with no subsidies only 6 hydroelectric plants and 4 wind farms appear to be feasible.
Programme(s)
Call for proposal
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71110 Heraklion, Crete
Greece