Use of Solar Photovoltaic Systems for Meeting the Power Demand in the Island of Crete, Greece Avoiding the Land Use Conflicts
Keywords:
agrivoltaics, Crete-Greece, floating photovoltaics, land use, rooftops, vertical photovoltaicsAbstract
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.
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