Aspects of Clean Energy Transition in the Island of Crete, Greece

Authors

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

Keywords:

aviation, clean energy transition, Crete, electricity, heat and cooling, renewable energies, transportation, vehicles

Abstract

Clean energy transition in islands is of paramount importance for climate change mitigation. Various aspects in de-carbonization of the island of Crete, Greece have been investigated in order to examine the difficulties in replacing fossil fuels with benign energy resources in energy generation and in transportation. De-carbonization in different socio-economic sectors in Crete has been studied in order to find out the feasibility of de-carbonizing them as well as the sustainable energy technologies that can be used for achieving that. The results indicated that the sectors of electricity generation and heat and cooling production can be de-carbonized rather easily in the short to medium term using the abundant renewable energies in Crete. Transportation inside the island can be de-carbonized in the medium to long-term replacing the old conventional vehicles with new electric vehicles. More difficult is the de-carbonization in the transportation to and from Crete, via aircrafts and ships, since the required technologies are not mature and reliable yet while the necessary fuels are not produced in large scale in a cost-efficient way. De-carbonization in this sector can be achieved only in long-term while various technological breakthroughs are required for that. It is concluded that the clean energy transition in Crete is technically and economically feasible in some sectors while in others could be achievable only in the long-term supported by new technological developments.  The results could be useful to policy makers for the creation and realization of a clean energy transition plan in the island of Crete that is necessary for complying with the EU target for carbon neutrality in the continent by 2050.

References

. F. Polzin & M. Sanders. “How to finance the transition to low-carbon energy in Europe”. Energy Policy, vol. 147, 111863, 2020. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enpol.2020.111863

. D. Tsekeris, D. (2019). “The energy transition of the Greek non-interconnected islands”. Internet: https://hybridpowersystems.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/13/2019/06/1_1_HYB19_088_presentation_Tsekeris_Dimitris.pdf, [July 26, 2921]

. S. Biza, D. Piromalis, D. Barkas, C.S. Psomopoulos & C.D. Tsirekis. “Crete-Peloponnese 150 KV AC interconnection. Simulation results for transient phenomena in main switches”. Energy Procedia, vol. 157, pp. 1366-1376, 2019. 10.1016/j.egypro.2018.11.301

. “EU islands in the energy transition, A catalogue of good practices”, (2019). Internet: https://euislands.eu/sites/default/files/eu_islands_good_practice_IA.pdf, [July 26, 2021]

. “Islands transition handbook. How to develop your island’s clean energy transition agenda”, (2020). Internet: https://www.euislands.eu/sites/default/files/2019-10/eu_islands_transition%20handbook_IA_web.pdf, [July 26, 2021]

. “Political Declaration on Clean Energy for EU islands”, (2017). Internet: https://ec.europa.eu/energy/sites/ener/files/documents/170505_political_declaration_on_clean_energy_for_eu_islands-_final_version_16_05_20171.pdf, [July 26, 2021]

. D.Y.C. Leung, G. Caramanna & M.M. Maroto-Valer. “An overview of current status of carbon dioxide capture and storage technologies”. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 39, pp. 426-443, 2014. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.07.093

. M.A. Repullo-Ruiberriz de Torres, R. Carbonell-Bojollo, C. Alcantara-Brana, A. Rodriguez-Lizana, A. & R. Ordonez-Fernandez. “Carbon sequestration potential of residues of different types of cover crops in olive groves under Mediterranean climate”. Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research, vol.10(3), pp. 649-661, 2012. http://dx.doi.org/10.5424/sjar/2012103-562-11

. E. Laes, L. Gorissen & F. Nevens. “A comparison of energy transition governance in Germany the Netherlands and the United Kingdom”. Sustainability, vol. 6, pp. 1129-1152, 2014. doi:10.3390/su6031129

. Annual report on the energy system in Crete, (2018), Hellenic Electricity Distribution Network Operator (DEDDIE), (in Greek)

. Preliminary plan for clean energy transition in the island of Crete, Greece, 2020. Personal communication with Nicolas Zografakis, Region of Crete.

. Th. Kandaramath Hari, Z. Yaacob & N.N. Binitha. “Aviation bio-fuel from renewable resources: Routes, opportunities and challenges”. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 42, pp. 1234-1244, 2015. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2014.10.095

. P. Peeters, J. Higham, D. Kutzner, S. Cohen & S. Gossling. “Are technology myths stalling aviation climate policy?”. Transportation Research Part: D. Transport and Environment, vol. 44, pp. 30-42, 2016. DOI: 10.1016/j.trd.2016.02.004

. “Roadmap to De-carbonizing European Aviation, European Federation for Transport and Environment” (2018). Internet: https://www.transportenvironment.org/sites/te/files/publications/2018_10_Aviation_decarbonisation_paper_final.pdf, [May 12, 2021]

. D. Chiaramonti. “Sustainable aviation fuels: the challenges of de-carbonization”. Energy Procedia, vol. 158, pp. 1202-1207, 2019. 10.1016/j.egypro.2019.01.308

. J. Vourdoubas. “Estimations of carbon emissions due to tourism in the island of Crete, Greece”. Journal of Tourism and Hospitality Management, vol. 7(2), pp. 24-32, 2019. DOI: 10.15640/jthm.v7n2a3

. P. Dorta Antequera, J. Diaz Pacheco, A. Lopez Diez & C. Bethencourt Herrera. “Tourism, transport and climate change: The carbon footprint of international air traffic on islands”. Sustainability, vol. 13, 1795, 2021. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13041795

. A. Al-Enazi, E.C. Okonkwo, Y. Bicer & T. Al-Ansari. “A review of cleaner alternative fuels for maritime transportation”. Energy Reports, vol. 7, pp. 1962-1985, 2021. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.egyr.2021.03.036

. M. Hepperle. “Electric flight-potential and limitations”, presented at the Conference AVT-209, Workshop on Energy Efficient Technologies and Concepts Operation, 2012. Internet: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/234738753_Electric_Flight_-_Potential_and_Limitations

. I. Staack, A. Sobron & P. Krus. “The whole truth about electric-powered flight for civil transportation: From breguet to operational aspects”, presented at the Aerospace Europe Conference 2020, Bordeaux, France, 25-28 February 2020. Internet: https://ftfsweden.se/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/AEC2020_ElectricAircraft_I-Staack_paper335.pdf.pdf

. A.W. Schafer, S.R.H. Barrett, K. Doyme, L.M. Dray, A.R. Gnadt, R. Self, A. O’Sullivan, A.P. Synodinos & A.J. Torija. “Technological, Economic and Environmental prospects of all-electric aircrafts”. Nature Energy, vol. 4(2), pp. 160-166, 2018. http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/s41560-018-0294-x

. IRENA. “A path to prosperity: Renewable energy for islands,” Presented at the Convention on Climate Change, held in Marrakesh, Morocco, 7-18 November, 2016, 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the United Nations. Internet: https://www.irena.org//media/Files/IRENA/Agency/Publication/2016/IRENA_Path_to_Prosperity_Islands_2016.pdf [February 2, 2021]

. ADEME. “Mediterranean Energy Transition: 2040 Scenario”, presented at the 4th MEDENER International Conference “Enhancing energy transition in the Mediterranean towards a sustainable energy mix”, 25 May, 2016, Algiers. Internet: https://www.ademe.fr/sites/default/files/assets/documents/vers_engl_25_oct_bat_web.pdf

. Y. Kuang, Y. Zhang, B. Zhou, C. Li, Y. Cao & L. Li. “A review of renewable energy utilization in islands,” Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 59, pp. 504-513, 2016. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2016.01.014

. F. Chen, N. Duic, L.M. Alves & M.D.G. Carvalho. “Renewislands – Renewable energy solutions for islands”. Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, vol. 11, pp. 1888 – 1902, 2007. doi:10.1016/j.rser.2005.12.009

. Dominkovic, D.F., Baekovi, I., Osi, B., Krajai, G., Puksec, T., Dui, N., & Markovska, N., “Zero carbon energy system of South East Europe in 2050,” Technical University of Denmark, 2016. Internet: http://www.go100re.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/01/Zero-carbon-energy-system-of-SEE.pdf, [May 16, 2021]

. “Heat from renewable energy sources, The RES-initiative and related directives”, (2002). Available at Internet: https://ec.europa.eu/clima/sites/default/files/eccp/second/docs/renewable_energy_srcs_heat_en.pdf [May 21, 2021]

. “Renewable heat sources: The best available solution to de-carbonize the heating sector, Joint position paper”, (2017). Internet: http://www.estif.org/fileadmin/estif/Electrification-HC_AEBIOM-EGEC-ESTIF_April-2017-1.pdf [March 22, 2021]

. O. Christopoulou, M. Fountoukidou, St. Sakellariou, St. Tampekis, F. Samara, A. Sfoungaris, A. Stergiadou, G. Tsantopoulos, K. Soutsas & I. Sfoungaris. “Energy autonomy in small islands in the frame of their sustainable development exploring biomass energy potential in Samothrace (Greece)”. International Journal of Sustainable and Green Energy, vol. 6(4-1), pp. 9-17, 2015. doi: 10.11648/j.ijrse.2015060401.12

. “Solar heating and cooling & solar air-conditioning, Task 53, New generation solar cooling & heating systems (PV or solar thermally driven systems), IEA”, (2018). Internet: http://task53.iea-shc.org/Data/Sites/1/publications/IEA-SHC-Solar-Heating-and-Cooling-Solar-AC-Position-Paper-summary.pdf [May 28, 2021]

. M. Karagiorgas. “Solar thermal systems in EU and Greece”, presented at the CEE solar 2008, Shedding light on the emerging solar market, 21 November 2008. Internet: http://www.cres.gr/trans-solar/downloads/Event_Romania/06.pdf [21/5/2021]

. C.C. Thomas. “Fuel cell and battery electric vehicles compared”. International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, vol. 34, pp. 6005-6020, 2009. doi:10.1016/j.ijhydene.2009.06.003

. S. Darda, Th. Papalas & A. Zabaniotou. “Bio-fuels journey in Europe: Currently the way to low carbon economy sustainability is still a challenge”. Journal of Cleaner Production, vol. 208, pp. 575-588, 2019. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2018.10.147

. J. Vourdoubas. “Studies on the Electrification of the Transport Sector in the Island of Crete, Greece”. Open Journal of Energy Efficiency, vol. 7, pp. 19-32, 2018. https://doi.org/10.4236/ojee.2018.71002

. G. Schirripa Spagnolo, D. Papalillo, A. Martocchia & G. Makary. “Solar-electric boat”. Journal of Transportation Technologies, vol. 2, pp. 144-149, 2012. doi:10.4236/jtts.2012.22015

. B. Guellard, X. De Montgros, Ph. Pallu De La Barriere, G. Worfensberger & Ph. D’ Oliveira. “An overview of electric and solar boat markets in France”, presented at the EVS27 Symposium, Barcelona, Spain, November, 17-20, 2013. Internet: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325211548_An_overview_of_electric_and_solar_boats_market_in_France

. “Population in Crete, (Census 2011)”, Internet: https://el.wikipedia.org/wiki/%CE%9A%CF%81%CE%AE%CF%84%CE%B7, [July 18,2021]

. https://data.worldbank.org

Downloads

Published

2021-08-19

How to Cite

Vourdoubas, J. . (2021). Aspects of Clean Energy Transition in the Island of Crete, Greece. American Scientific Research Journal for Engineering, Technology, and Sciences, 81(1), 36–50. Retrieved from https://asrjetsjournal.org/index.php/American_Scientific_Journal/article/view/6993

Issue

Section

Articles