Possibility of Covering All the Power Demand in the Island of Crete, Greece with Solar Photovoltaics

Abstract

The increasing use of solar energy for heat and power generation, particular in areas with high solar irradiance like in Mediterranean region, is very important for the mitigation of climate change and the achievement of net-zero emission societies. The size of the solar photovoltaic systems which could meet all the electricity demand in Crete, Greece and the required land area for their installation have been evaluated taking into account the electricity demand in the island in 2025. Our results indicate that the nominal power of the solar photovoltaics which could meet all the power demand in 2025 in Crete is 2,333 MWp while their installation cost is 2.33 bill. € or 2,333 €/capita. The required land area for the installation of the abovementioned solar photovoltaic systems is 4,660 ha or 7.5 m2/capita which corresponds at 0.56% of the total surface of Crete. Our findings indicate that electricity self-sufficiency with zero carbon impacts in the island of Crete can be achieved with the use of the local solar energy resources while the necessary land area for the installation of the benign energy generation systems consists of only a small percentage of the island’s surface. The results could be useful to policy makers and the local authorities in the island who are interested in achieving energy security and self-sufficiency combined with carbon neutrality in power generation.