Use of Solar Photovoltaic Systems for Meeting the Power Demand in the Island of Crete, Greece Avoiding the Land Use Conflicts

Authors

  • John Vourdoubas Consultant Engineer, 107B El. Venizelou str., 73132, Chania, Crete, Greece

Keywords:

agrivoltaics, Crete-Greece, floating photovoltaics, land use, rooftops, vertical photovoltaics

Abstract

Solar photovoltaic systems are increasingly used for power generation worldwide replacing the use of fossil fuels and reducing the energy-related carbon emissions. The abundant solar energy resources in Crete can generate green electricity increasing the island’s energy security and self-sufficiency. Apart from installing them on the ground new configurations for siting solar photovoltaics have been developed avoiding the conflicts related with land use. Several unconventional configurations regarding the installation of solar photovoltaic modules in Crete meeting the annual power demand have been investigated. These configurations include their installation on rooftops of buildings, on the surface of water bodies, on cultivated and uncultivated land allowing the dual production of energy and food and on the fields vertically sited. Evaluation of power generation from solar photovoltaics sited on rooftops of buildings in Crete indicated that they could generate a significant amount of the annual electricity demand of the island while the floating solar photovoltaics could only generate a small amount of its annual power demand. The use of agrivoltaics and of vertical photovoltaics in Crete could generate significant amounts of electricity although quantitative estimations have not been implemented. In conclusion, solar electricity generation in Crete can meet the annual power demand in the island allowing the dual use of valuable and fertile land for electricity generation and food production.

References

K. Bodis, I. Kougias, A. Jager-Waldau, N. Taylor & S. Szabo. “A high-resolution geospatial assessment of the rooftop of solar photovoltaic potential in the European Union”. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews. 114, 109309, 2019. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2019.109309

T. Zhong, Z. Zhang, M. Chen, K. Zhang, Z. Zhou, R. Zhu, Y. Wang, G. Lu & J. Yan. “A city-scale estimation of rooftop solar photovoltaic potential based on deep learning”. Applied Energy. 298, 117132, 2021. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117132

A. Tian, D. Zünd & L.M.A. Bettencourt. “Estimating Rooftop Solar Potential in Urban Environments: A Generalized Approach and Assessment of the Galápagos Islands”. Frontiers in Sustainable Cities. 3, 632109, 2021. Available: doi: 10.3389/frsc.2021.632109

A. Garrod, S.N. Hussain, A. Chosh, S. Nahata & C. Wynne. “An assessment of floating photovoltaic systems and energy storage methods: A comprehensive review”. Results in Engineering. 21, 101940, 2024. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rineng.2024.101940

L. Essak & A. Ghosh. “Floating Photovoltaics: A Review”. Clean Technologies. 4, pp. 752–769, 2022. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/ cleantechnol4030046

A. Amer, H. Attar, S. As’ad, S. Alsaqoor, I. Colak, A. Alahmer, M. Alali, G. Borowski, M. Hmada & A. Solyman. “Floating photovoltaics: Assessing the potential advantages and challenges of harnessing solar energy on water bodies”. Journal of Ecological Engineering. 24(10), pp. 324-339, 2023. Available: https://doi.org/10.12911/22998993/170917

A. Chatzipanagi, N. Taylor & A. Jaeger-Waldau. “Overview of the Potential and Challenges for Agri-Photovoltaics in the European Union”. Publications Office of the European Union, Luxembourg, 2023. Available: doi:10.2760/208702, JRC13287

A. Roxani, A. Zisos, G-K. Sakki & A. Efstratiadis. “Multidimensional Role of Agrovoltaics in Era of EU Green Deal: Current Status and Analysis of Water–Energy–Food–Land Dependencies”. Land. 12, 1069, 2023. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/ land12051069

C. Toledo & A. Scognamiglio. “Agrivoltaic Systems Design and Assessment: A Critical Review, and a Descriptive Model towards a Sustainable Landscape Vision (Three-Dimensional Agrivoltaic Patterns)”. Sustainability. 13, 6871, 2021. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/su13126871

T. Varbov, G. Velev & K. Ivanov. “Study of vertical mounted photovoltaic modules and their influence on the production of electrical energy in free-standing photovoltaic systems using PVGIS-CMSAF”. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science. 1156, 012014, 2023. Available: doi:10.1088/1755-1315/1156/1/012014

S-M. Lee, E-C. Lee, J-H. Lee, S-H. Yu, J-S. Heo, W-Y. Lee & B-S. Kim. “Analysis of the Output Characteristics of a Vertical Photovoltaic System Based on Operational Data: A Case Study in Republic of Korea”. Energies. 16, 6971, 2023. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/ en16196971

How much land will PV need to supply our electricity? The National Renewable Energy Laboratory, DOE, USA, DOE/GO-102004-1835, 2004. Available: https://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy04osti/35097.pdf

S. Battersby. “How to expand solar power without using precious land”. PNAS. 120(9), e 2301355120, 2023. Available: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2301355120

Dirk-Jan van de Ven, I. Capellan-Perez, J. Arto, I. Cazcarro, C. de Castro, P. Patel & M. Gonzalez-Equino. “The potential land requirements and related land use change emissions of solar energy”. Scientific Reports, Nature Portofolio. 11, 2907, 2021. Available: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-021-82042-5

R. Kopecek & J. Libal. “Bifacial Photovoltaics 2021: Status, Opportunities and Challenges”. Energies. 14, 2076, 2021. Available: https:// doi.org/10.3390/en14082076

D.S. Braga, L.L. Kazmerski, D.A. Cassini, V. Camatta. & A.S.A.C. Diniz. “Performance of bifacial PV modulus under different operating conditions in the state of Minas Gerais in Brazil”. Renewable Energy and Environmental Sustainability. 8, 23, 2023. Available: https://doi.org/10.1051/rees/2023021

R. Cirimimna, L. Albanese, M. Pecoraino, F. Meneguzzo. & M. Pagliaro. “Solar Energy and new energy technologies for Mediterranean countries”. Global Challenges. 3, 1900016, 2019. Available: DOI: 10.1002/gch2.201900016

D. Hee Shin. & S-H. Choi. “Recent studies on semi-transparent solar cells”. Coatings. 8, 329 2018. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.3390/coatings8100329

Greek National Plan for Energy and Climate, Ministry of Environment and Energy, 2023 (in Greek). Available: https://commission.europa.eu/system/files/2023-11/GREECE%20-%20DRAFT%20UPDATED%20NECP%202021-2030%20EN.pdf

Solar may cover the world’s electricity demand with 0.3% of its land area. PV – Magazine, 2023. Available: https://www.pv-magazine.com/2023/02/01/solar-may-cover-the-worlds-electricity-demand-with-0-3-of-its-land-area/

R.R. Hernandez, M.K. Hoffacker, M.L. Murphy-Mariscal, G.C. Wu & M.F. Allen. “Solar energy development impacts on land cover change and protected areas”. PNAS. 112, pp. 13579-13584, 2015. Available: https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1517656112

P.J. Saunders. “Land use requirements of solar and wind power generation: Understanding a decade ofacademic research”, 2020. Available: file:///C:/Users/%CE%B3%CE%B9%CE%B1%CE%BD%CE%BD%CE%B7%CF%82%20%CE%B2%CE%BF%CF%85%CF%81%CE%B4%CE%BF%CF%85%CE%BC%CF%80%CE%B1%CF%82/Desktop/SOLAR-PV%20IN%20CRETE/38-2020.pdf

“Photovoltaic Energy Factsheet”. Pub. No. CSS07-08, Center for Sustainable Systems, University of Michigan, 2023. Available: https://css.umich.edu/sites/default/files/2023-10/Photovoltaic%20Energy_CSS07-08.pdf

E.H. Adeh, S.P. Good, M. Calaf & C.W. Higgins. “Solar PV power potential is greatest over croplands”. Scientific Reports. 9, 11442, 2019. Available: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-019-47803-3

Solar panels on half of the world’s roofs could meet its entire electricity demand. World Economic Forum 2021. Available: https://www.weforum.org/agenda/2021/10/solar-panels-half-the-world-roofs-electricity-research/

The energy system of Crete. Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator, HEDNO, 2018. (In Greek).

A. Garrod & A. Ghosh. “A review of bifacial solar photovoltaic applications”. Frontiers Energy. 17(6), pp.704-726, 2023. Available: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11708-023-0903-7

E. Fakhraian, M. Alier, F. Valls Dalmau, A. Nameni & M.J. Casañ Guerrero. “The Urban Rooftop Photovoltaic Potential Determination”. Sustainability. 13, 7447, 2021. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/ su13137447

L.K. Wiginton, H.T. Nguyen & J.M. Pearce. “Quantifying rooftop solar photovoltaic potential for regional renewable energy policy. Computers”. Environment and Urban Systems. 34(4), pp. 345- 357, 2010. Available: ff10.1016/j.compenvurbsys.2010.01.001ff. ffhal-02120495f

I.R. Romero Rodriguez, E. Duminil, J. Sanchez Ramos. & U. Eicker. “Assessment of the photovoltaic potential at urban level based on 3D city models: A study and new methodological approach”. Solar Energy. 146, pp. 264-275, 2017. Available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.solener.2017.02.043

J. Vourdoubas. “Solar electricity generation from floating photovoltaics installed on water dams: A case study from the island of Crete, Greece”. In book: Highlights in Science and Technology, 5, pp. 57-74, 2023, edited by BP International, London.

A. Chalgynbayeva, Z. Gabnai, P. Lengyel, A. Pestisha & A. Bai. “Worldwide Research Trends in Agrivoltaic Systems—A Bibliometric Review”. Energies. 16, 611, 2023. Available: https://doi.org/10.3390/en16020611

Agivoltaics, Market Research Study. DOE, USA, 2022. Available: https://science.osti.gov/-/media/sbir/pdf/Market-Research/SETO---Agrivoltaics-August-2022-Public.pdf

Agrivoltaics: Opportunities for agriculture and the energy transition, A guideline for Germany. Fraunhofer Institute for Solar energy Systems, Freiburg, 2022. Available: https://www.ise.fraunhofer.de/content/dam/ise/en/documents/publications/studies/APV-Guideline.pdf

K. Biro-Varga, I. Sirnik & S. Stremke. “Landscape user experiences of interspace and overheads agrivoltaics: A comparative analysis of two novel types of solar landscapes in the Netherlands”. Energy Research and Social Science. 109, 103408, 2024. Available: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.erss.2023.103408

B. Viriyaroj, S. Jouttijärvi, M. Jänkälä. & K. Miettunen. “Performance of vertically mounted bifacial photovoltaics under the physical influence of low-rise residential environment in high-latitude locations”. Frontiers in Built Environment. 10, 1343036, 2024. Available: doi: 10.3389/fbuil.2024.1343036

www.statistics.gr

Downloads

Published

2024-05-26

How to Cite

John Vourdoubas. (2024). Use of Solar Photovoltaic Systems for Meeting the Power Demand in the Island of Crete, Greece Avoiding the Land Use Conflicts. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 98(1), 37–52. Retrieved from https://www.asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/10288

Issue

Section

Articles