Off-grid photovoltaic energy supply on the Kornati archipelago in Croatia : substitution of a diesel generator by a photovoltaic system with battery backup

Abstract

The deployment of renewable energies in Croatia, and especially in the Kornati national park and along the coastal line in Dalmatia, is, apart from hydro power, underdeveloped. This work attempts to find a renewable and sustainable energy supply for these remote areas to substitute the existing diesel generators. This aims on the one hand for a cost-effective alternative for single households and on the other hand for a reduction in air pollution, i.e., emission of CO2 and other toxic elements, of which locals, tourists and even the state will benefit. Influenced by the prevailing conditions and the current legislative a small-scale PV plant with additional battery storage is considered and compared to a diesel generator in technical, economical and ecological respect. The research results of various existing studies are aggregated to evaluate the potential of such plants by comparing different scenarios. This comprises i.a. the future development of the PV and diesel prices. Based on the results for a single PV-plant, which outperforms a diesel generator with regard to emission and costs of more than 10,000 Euro over the lifetime of 20 years, the assumption is made that there is a potential for the implementation of about 5,000 small-scale PV plants in the respective area. Therewith, a substantial contribution towards a more sustainable energy production in Croatia is made.