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Alternatives for the Optimization and Reduction in the Carbon Footprint in Island Electricity Systems (IESs)

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  • Juan Carlos Lozano Medina

    (Campus de Tafira, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • Sebastian Perez-Baez

    (Department of Process Engineering, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • Federico Leon-Zerpa

    (Campus de Tafira, University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas, Spain)

  • Carlos A. Mendieta-Pino

    (Instituto de Estudios Ambientales y Recursos Naturales (IUNAT), University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas, Spain)

Abstract

The penetration of renewable energies in island electricity systems (IESs) poses a series of challenges, which include, among others, grid stability, the response to demand, and the security of the supply. Based on the current characteristics of electricity demand on the islands of the Canary Archipelago (Spain) and their electricity production systems, this study presents a series of alternative scenarios to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and increase the penetration of renewable energies. The goal is to optimize combustion-based (nonrenewable) energy production and combine it with renewable-based production that meets the requirements of dynamic response, safety, scaling, and integration with nonrenewable systems in terms of efficiency and power. As verified in the research background, the combination of power producing equipment that is generally employed on the islands is not the best combination to reduce pollution. The aim of this work is to find other possible combinations with better results. A methodology is developed and followed to obtain the lowest GHG production and to determine the measures to be applied based on: (a) changing the fuel type by switching to natural gas in the equipment that allows it; (b) using optimal combinations of the least polluting energy production equipment; (c) integrating, to the extent that it is possible, the Chira-Soria pumped hydroelectric energy storage plant into the Gran Canaria electricity system. A series of alternative scenarios are generated with different operating conditions which show the possibility of increasing the renewable installed capacity in the Canary Islands by up to 36.78% (70% in Gran Canaria), with a 65.13% reduction in GHG emissions and a 71.45% reduction in fuel consumption. The results of this study contribute, through the different measures determined through our research, to the mitigation of GHG emissions.

Suggested Citation

  • Juan Carlos Lozano Medina & Sebastian Perez-Baez & Federico Leon-Zerpa & Carlos A. Mendieta-Pino, 2024. "Alternatives for the Optimization and Reduction in the Carbon Footprint in Island Electricity Systems (IESs)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-17, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:3:p:1214-:d:1330785
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Lozano Medina, Juan Carlos & Henríquez Concepción, Vicente & León Zerpa, Federico Antonio & Mendieta Pino, Carlos A., 2024. "Gran Canaria energy system: Integration of the chira-soria pumped hydroelectric power plant and analysis of weekly daily demand patterns for the year 2023," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 232(C).

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