Proceedings of the 13 th International Conference on Environmental Science and Technology Athens, Greece, 5-7 September 2013 MOVING TOWARDS TO ENERGY SELF-SUFFICIENCY: THE CASE STUDY OF CHANIA (CRETE - GREECE) C. ANAGNOSTOU, D. PAPAMASTORAKI-AUGOUSTAKI and D. VAGIONA Department of Spatial Planning and Development, Faculty of Engineering, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, 54124 Thessaloniki, Greece. e-mail: dimvag@auth.gr EXTENDED ABSTRACT Nowadays, the goal of sustainable development in terms of planning, is the predominant growth direction, since the wasteful management of natural resources has led to various negative consequences for the planet. Significant emphasis, is given locally, motivating human and material resources in order to prevent unsustainable exploitation of natural resources. In order to overthrow the ominous predictions and to promote a model of sustainable development, local communities should consider an integrated and sustainable management of renewable resources. A major dimension of this effort, is the energy sector, and the interest is mainly focused on the use of RES (Renewable Energy Sources) at the prefectural level. There are many international community areas, which are moving towards energy independency of their energy needs from fossil fuels. The transition of an area from the current situation, to an Energy Self-Sufficient Region, is a one-step procedure, which requires a substantial period of time of implementation. The island of Crete, mainly because of its geographical position, has rich solar resources and the operating conditions of these energy sources are excellent. Therefore, it can be used as a sustainable growth model moving towards energy independency, which is associated with securing of sufficient energy from RES, to cover the energy needs of the island in the maximum possible extend. In this paper, the Prefecture of Chania is selected as the main study area. In recent years, intensive tourist activity and a tendency for population growth, are some of the characteristics, which has a direct impact on the changing energy needs of the county. This growth has not been accompanied by the appropriate planning. Moreover, the pattern of energy consumption for various activities, including tourism, has changed. This paper, explores the possibility of the prefecture of Chania, to move towards energy independency and be characterized as an Energy Self-sufficient Autonomous Region. Various proposals moving towards this direction are suggested and policy measures that will contribute to public awareness and motivation to a sustainable energy living future are identified. The sitting of the proposed energy installations evokes from the implementation of certain criteria for the appropriate location that are provided from the respective legislative framework. Keywords: energy self sufficiency, sustainable development, renewable energy sources (RES)
1. INTRODUCTION Nowadays, financial and environmental motivations have led many regions and local communities in Europe to energy self-sufficiency. The increasing number of these areas is an interesting issue that should be investigated. Towards a sustainable society, the islands are unique laboratories to acquire knowledge and understanding of the relationship between man and environment. Analyses of the European renewable energy industry and other known scientific institutions, show that the only technologically feasible, and the only truly sustainable environmentally, socially and economically alternative, is RES. Applied to a region, this means that its entire energy demand is produced locally. Many concepts deviate to a greater or lesser extent from this definition: An ideal 100 % renewable energy region meets its own energy demand entirely from renewable sources, is extremely energy efficient and uses its regional potentials in a way that is both sustainable and accepted by the general public. This means that the energy supply is environmentally sound, sustainable, secure and contributes to the regional added value (ideal region, DeENet, 2009). Energy self-sufficiency can be found on different scales. There is the energy selfsufficient farm, the energy self-sufficient town or village, or the energy self-sufficient county and so on. Even the possibility of entire countries that are energy self-sufficient is conceivable. In this context, the question arises as to what the most suitable size of unit is for achieving the goal of self-sufficiency. It is important to find a workable compromise between the necessary geographical proximity to the local people and the level of professional resources needed to be effective (Tischer, 2009). This would point to the region as the optimal spatial unit. Creating an energy self-sufficient region is a complex process. It can be divided into different phases. It is important to note that, depending on the starting situation and the objective, the priority areas may vary in the individual phases. The phases of energy selfsufficiency includes: preparation (motivate key actors, mission statement, vision); regional analysis (analyze the regional situation, the potentials for energy saving and efficiency, the potentials for renewable energy, and the social context); goals (discuss and adopt goals); regional energy self-sufficiency programme, implementation of measures and projects; monitoring and implementation (Tischer, 2009). Recently, a number of factors have emerged as being conducive to the development of energy self-sufficient regions (Neges & Schauer 2007). The following factors are essential: A convincing vision that has broad public appeal and can unite people around it. The initiative must be well grounded and help to strengthen a sense of regional identity. A clear implementation concept with realistic goals. Committed individuals who support the process and drive it forward. Good teams that perform their duties responsibly. Trust is important and must constantly be reaffirmed by the actions of all concerned. Secure long-term financing. A boost from government funds is very helpful. However, in the medium term, care should be taken to mobilise as much capital as possible in the region itself. Sound structures that can cope with the diverse tasks. It is also important that they are adaptable and able to evolve. 2. THE STUDY AREA Regarding the experience of energy autonomous regions, most cases of such geographical units include parts of islands. Wind and solar power installations ensure high amounts of energy and lead to energy autonomy. The part of Chania (Crete island) is selected as the main study area, as it is one of the four prefectures of Crete island
which is very privileged regarding to wind and solar potential. The prefecture of Chania is a regional section of the island of Crete, with characteristics that determines the profile of the region. Crete is the fourth largest island in the Mediterranean. The high increase in population, and therefore the upward trend of its energy needs and economic growth rates makes the island the ideal approach of institutes and research institutions, for studies on the feasibility and utilization of wind and solar power. Moreover, the overall dependence of the autonomous region's energy system of fuel imports from the mainland, the availability of a rich and largely untapped renewable energy potential number (the highest solar radiation in Europe), the high investor interest related to renewable energy and the environment (Mourelatos, 1998), are features that constitute the island ideal for development of renewable energy, creating a promising and optimistic frame shift in Chania towards energy autonomy. 2.1. Power system and renewable energy sources of Crete The power system of Crete is the largest autonomous system in Greece. The relevant features make it unique in the country, while it has all the technical features of an autonomous island system with all the disadvantages they entail. The power system of Crete includes the following interesting features: three thermoelectric power stations and networks transmission lines (150 kv, 66 kv and 20 kv), a total of 27 conventional units and 15 substations, a dispatching center which uses telemetry SCADA system and a small hydroelectric plant and wind farms with significant penetration rate in the system. The percentage of RES installations in Crete is significant. The rich solar and wind potential of the island, provides significant incentives for producers who want to invest in facilities of PV and wind farms. During 2010, the installed capacity of wind power parks in Crete was 166.72 MW, while the installed PV capacity was 30.7 MW. The total installed capacity of renewable energy, including hydro, is 198 MW (19% of total installed capacity system). Correspondingly, the net production from RES covers 15.9% of the total production of the system. 2.2. Current energy situation of the prefecture of Chania In the prefecture of Chania, one power station, which is located at Xylokamara positition, 6 kilometers east of the city of Chania, is installed. The total installed capacity of the plant is 355 MW. Moreover, four of the islands substations are sited in Chania, Kastelli, Agia and Vrysses positions respectively. The total energy supply from substations of Chania Prefecture reaches 744071.70 MWh (ESYE), approximately, 26.90% of the total energy which is available in the island. The total energy consumption in the prefecture was 671484 MWh, at 2011. Almost 80% of total energy consumption is shared in commercial and domestic use. Regarding the installation of RES in Chania, there are biomass installations (0.17 MW) sited at the place of assembly of biological wastewater treatment of Chania. Moreover, two hydro power stations of 0.30 MW are installed. One Hydroelectric Station, located in the municipality of Georgioupolis, at the area of the river Almiros, while another in Theriso in Agia region. Regarding the installation of photovoltaic systems, there are two solar parks in the municipality of Gavdos, with total power 0.03 MW and a solar thermal power station of 50 MW, in the Municipality of Akrotiri, while the total capacity of photovoltaic systems which have been installed in the county corresponds to 4.88 MW (Public Power Coorporation Data Sheet for May, 2011). Therefore, the total power of RES reaches 56.11 MW. Regarding the annual Public Power Coorporation Report for 2010, four Wind farms (26.45 MW) are installed. The total output energy derived from them is 77715 MWh, which covers approximately 10.44% of the energy needs of the perfecture. The best
performance of these systems occurs during the month of July and the lowest is observed in November. 3. RESULTS 3.1. Location proposal of RES in Chania Specific positions are proposed for the location of RES installations, in order to ensure a sufficient amount of energy to satisfy the energy needs of the prefecture of Chania. The installations are related to energy conservation in various sectors of activity, important for the economy of Chania, which combined with the policy measures that will be presented below, can lead the study area to energy self-sufficiency. Using the program RetScreen, cost analysis is presented for each installation of RES and the appropriate policy measures for energy autonomy of the prefecture of Chania are presented in the nest section. In order to find the right positions for installing wind farms and photovoltaic parks, the legal framework is considered, which forbids the installation of RES in specific areas. The maps below (Figure 3 and 4), are products of combining spatial data and the legal framework in Greece, which is related to spatial planning and energy policy of the country. From the appropriate sites for the location of wind farms, the largest area is selected in order to achieve the maximum possible power production. Figure 3. Representation of Suitability areas for locating wind farms and the selected alternative siting location of wind farm. This position is located in the Municipality of Kissamos and covers an area of 6479 acres.
Table 1 presents the reduction of emissions of pollutant of greenhouse, as a result from the location and operation of wind turbines. Because of the installation of the wind farm, the carbon emissions are expected to be reduced by 11.620 tons (RETscreen). Table 1. Reduction of emissions. Reduction of emissions Quantity Annual energy production (MWh) 14.391 CO 2 (tn) 11.620 CH 4 (tn) 533 N 2O (tn) 37 Moreover, the total costs of this installation of the wind farm is considered to reach 12653766 euro, and based on the data that arises through the program RETscreen, the annual generated energy will correspond to 10.953 MWh. In contrast to all the other alternative sources of renewable energy that may become exploitable only in specific areas, solar energy can exist almost everywhere. Most suitable are characterized the areas with grasslands, shrubs and bare ground. These areas are taken into account, to create the suitability map of Photovoltaic Park sitting in the Prefecture of Chania. Figure 4. Representation of Suitability areas for locating Photovoltaic Parks and the selected alternative sitting location of Photovoltaic Parks
Three solar farms are proposed. All the above sites are characterized as grassland, a land use which is regarded as the most suitable for installing RES. Because of the original acceptance for identification of technical characteristics of Photovoltaic Parks, the energy produced by each Photovoltaic Park, is the same and equals to 163171.918 MWh. Therefore, the total output of the proposed Photovoltaic Park, equals to 489515.754 MWh. This value corresponds to approximately 73% of the energy needs of the study area (since the total electricity consumption does not exceed 671500 MWh). Because of the installation of the three solar parks, the carbon emissions will be reduced by 412434.27 tons (RETscreen). 3.2. Energy Conservation Suggestions and policy measures Apart from ensuring a proportion of energy to meet the energy needs of Chania, through the proposal of installation of RES, some policy measures and energy saving measures are suggested. The reason is that the proposals for photovoltaic and wind farms in combination with the installed capacity in the prefecture is expected to cover 86% of the total needs of Chania. With the parallel implementation of actions for energy savings and energy autonomy laws, the 100% energy independence can be ensured. The policy and energy saving measures include but are not limited to: Development of a land use plan for renewable energy that will be based on a realistic picture of the potential of renewable energy sources. Promotion of renewable energy technologies with assured quality. Recognition of a number of basic society rights: i) the right to commit the resources that exist in the place where they live) the right to produce their own energy. Strengthening of national legislation for RES Regional Energy Policy Development of regional action plans. Implementation of reducing energy consumption campaigns. Involving NGOs in the planning of both terrestrial and coastal wind turbines. 5. CONCLUSIONS To ensure economic and environmental sustainability of the future, it is necessary to move towards exploitation of RES. The appropriate level to increase energy supply from renewable sources seems to be the region. Creating a self-sufficient region, can be an important incentive for the development of regional economy. This is especially applicable for rural and generally structurally weak regions where there is a lack of alternative financial solutions. The regional development, energy policy and climate protection are a possible combination of incentives for action. Energy self-sufficiency includes sustainable agriculture, energy efficient building, environmentally friendly transport and others. Basically, the term of energy autonomy, suggests turning an entire region towards sustainability. The referenced incentive for more energy independence initiatives is sustainability. An energy-autonomous region can be described as truly sustainable, if it combines the interests of nature conservation and landscape. To implement a program around energy independence requires defining a compelling vision in conjunction with the detailed analysis of the specific social economic characteristics and potential of the area. A clear definition of objectives and continuous monitoring and evaluation is also necessary. The local level can provide a focus for the systematic effort raising awareness and changing behaviour patterns, which can change the course of events through the logic of the contribution of local action on a global scale (think global act local). An important role has the mobilization of local authorities in this direction.
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