How to Decarbonize Greece by Comparing Wind and PV Energy: A Land Eligibility Analysis
To achieve sustainable development, the energy transition from lignite burning to renewable energy resources for electric power generation is essential for Greece. Wind and solar energy have emerged as significant sources in this transition. Surprisingly, numerous studies have examined the potential...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Energies |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/3/567 |
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| author | Qilin Wang Evangelia Gontikaki Peter Stenzel Vasilis Louca Frithjof C. Küpper Martin Spiller |
| author_facet | Qilin Wang Evangelia Gontikaki Peter Stenzel Vasilis Louca Frithjof C. Küpper Martin Spiller |
| author_sort | Qilin Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | To achieve sustainable development, the energy transition from lignite burning to renewable energy resources for electric power generation is essential for Greece. Wind and solar energy have emerged as significant sources in this transition. Surprisingly, numerous studies have examined the potential for onshore wind based on land eligibility, while few studies on open-field photovoltaic (PV) installations have been conducted. Therefore, based on the Specific Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development for Renewable Energy Sources (SFSPSD-RES), along with insights from previous relevant studies, this work conducts a land eligibility analysis of onshore wind and open-field PV installations in Greece using the software Geospatial Land Availability for Energy Systems (GLAES 1.2.1) and ArcGIS 10.2. Additionally, through an in-depth exploration of wind and solar PV energy potential in decommissioned lignite mines integrated with wind power density (WPD) and global horizontal irradiation (GHI) maps, this study compares the suitability of wind versus solar as energy sources for the decarbonization of Greece. Overall, despite the greater spatial eligibility for onshore wind turbines compared to open-field PV power plants, the relatively lower wind energy potential and operational limitations of wind turbines lead to the study’s conclusion that solar energy (PV) is more suitable for the decarbonization of Greece. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:57:21Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-1786186324514d569381a6494c44f56f |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1996-1073 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T03:57:21Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Energies |
| spelling | doaj.art-1786186324514d569381a6494c44f56f2024-02-09T15:11:07ZengMDPI AGEnergies1996-10732024-01-0117356710.3390/en17030567How to Decarbonize Greece by Comparing Wind and PV Energy: A Land Eligibility AnalysisQilin Wang0Evangelia Gontikaki1Peter Stenzel2Vasilis Louca3Frithjof C. Küpper4Martin Spiller5School of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, Scotland, UKInstitute of Geoenergy, Foundation for Research and Technology Hellas, 73100 Chania, GreeceCologne Institute for Renewable Energy (CIRE), Faculty of Process Engineering, Energy and Mechanical Systems, TH Köln, Betzdorfer Str. 2, 50679 Köln, GermanySchool of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, Scotland, UKSchool of Biological Sciences, University of Aberdeen, Cruickshank Building, St. Machar Drive, Aberdeen AB24 3UU, Scotland, UKISATEC GmbH, Rathausstraße 10, 52072 Aachen, GermanyTo achieve sustainable development, the energy transition from lignite burning to renewable energy resources for electric power generation is essential for Greece. Wind and solar energy have emerged as significant sources in this transition. Surprisingly, numerous studies have examined the potential for onshore wind based on land eligibility, while few studies on open-field photovoltaic (PV) installations have been conducted. Therefore, based on the Specific Framework for Spatial Planning and Sustainable Development for Renewable Energy Sources (SFSPSD-RES), along with insights from previous relevant studies, this work conducts a land eligibility analysis of onshore wind and open-field PV installations in Greece using the software Geospatial Land Availability for Energy Systems (GLAES 1.2.1) and ArcGIS 10.2. Additionally, through an in-depth exploration of wind and solar PV energy potential in decommissioned lignite mines integrated with wind power density (WPD) and global horizontal irradiation (GHI) maps, this study compares the suitability of wind versus solar as energy sources for the decarbonization of Greece. Overall, despite the greater spatial eligibility for onshore wind turbines compared to open-field PV power plants, the relatively lower wind energy potential and operational limitations of wind turbines lead to the study’s conclusion that solar energy (PV) is more suitable for the decarbonization of Greece.https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/3/567land eligibilityrenewable energy resourcesonshore windopen-field PVGIS |
| spellingShingle | Qilin Wang Evangelia Gontikaki Peter Stenzel Vasilis Louca Frithjof C. Küpper Martin Spiller How to Decarbonize Greece by Comparing Wind and PV Energy: A Land Eligibility Analysis Energies land eligibility renewable energy resources onshore wind open-field PV GIS |
| title | How to Decarbonize Greece by Comparing Wind and PV Energy: A Land Eligibility Analysis |
| title_full | How to Decarbonize Greece by Comparing Wind and PV Energy: A Land Eligibility Analysis |
| title_fullStr | How to Decarbonize Greece by Comparing Wind and PV Energy: A Land Eligibility Analysis |
| title_full_unstemmed | How to Decarbonize Greece by Comparing Wind and PV Energy: A Land Eligibility Analysis |
| title_short | How to Decarbonize Greece by Comparing Wind and PV Energy: A Land Eligibility Analysis |
| title_sort | how to decarbonize greece by comparing wind and pv energy a land eligibility analysis |
| topic | land eligibility renewable energy resources onshore wind open-field PV GIS |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1996-1073/17/3/567 |
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