Selection of a Renewable Energy Mix by using Economic and Environmental Criteria. A Case Study in the Mediterranean Sea

Abstract

Despite technological progress and the ever more stringent laws on polluting emissions, in several remote areas and small islands the energy production is still dominated by the utilization of fossil fuels. This article discusses the feasibility of a mixed system of renewable sources (wind, photovoltaic and wave energy) to be implemented in Favignana, considering alternatively the minimization of the energy costs and estimation of the CO2 emission of the proposed energy mix. The study was carried out by estimating the energy production on a monthly and annual basis considering a mix of three renewable sources. This method can be easily applied for several small islands, estimating the ability to reduce the energy production from fossil fuels.