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Abstract Several Mediterranean islands are not connected to the main electricity grid yet meaning that independent local grids cater for their power requirements, mainly using imported fossil fuels whose resources scarcity, especially during the high-demand summer months, is a significant challenge. Seasonal variability in power demand, fuel price volatility, as well as a growing tourism development, impose some additional complexity. The present study analyses specific island grids of the Aegean Sea. Selected islands are analysed as case studies over a 20-year period (2016–2036). The developed energy modelling exercise uses a Harmony Search Algorithm in its core. It investigates whether the deployment of renewable energy sources could lead to a sustainable system, decrease the current burden from the government budget, and support local resources. In doing so we examine whether an increased share of RES, battery storage, and their combination could reduce islands' reliance on imports and potentially eliminate the current heavily subsidised status quo. The results show that a 30% increase of the consumption will require increases in installed power capacities by 40–70%, in the best case scenario. The latter involves significantly lower per-kWh cost, between 17% and 36% of the current values, due to the large share of RES. Highlights • Non-interconnected islands are dependent on imported fossil fuels for power production. • Their energy status is non-sustainable and requires high subsidies. • A model was developed to optimize the transformation of islands' power portfolios. • Renewable energy sources' deployment allows a considerable reduction in the cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pumped hydroelectric storage (PHS) is the main utility-scale storage technology. Although PHS systems generally constitute a fraction of generation, they receive increasing attention due to their potential balancing role towards higher penetration of variable renewable energy sources (RES). In the European context it is widely believed that PHS are key elements of the ongoing energy transition. The present analysis examines if this assumption is valid and PHS utilization grows parallel to RES. We collected, harmonised and analysed datasets for 1991–2016 revealing an uneven utilization among European states. While certain countries increased the utilization rates of PHS by a factor of three to four, in several others PHS units are heavily under-utilized. In three extreme cases the utilization rate, compared to the past, is at 10–25% level. We analysed this controversy by identifying tendencies in the electricity markets, ownership and management status in the various countries, as well as competition with other technologies with balancing potential. Finally, we developed a new approach to display PHS tendencies in a compact picture. Building on the growth-share matrix Economics framework, we identified the strategic direction of PHS for each of the analysed countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The design goals of the developed software are described followed by its architecture, which is presented in detail. The GUI-based interface supports a variety of environmental management problems and can provide best practices in a timely manner. The toolkit is generic and applicable to any scientific field. It was applied on a renewable energy (RE) system's management. The developed model simulates the hydraulic characteristics of a small-scale hydropower (SHP) station. Harmony search algorithm (HSA) toolkit optimized the SHP's operation, without violating the ecological constraints related to environmental flow (EF) regimes. This was equal to maximizing the revenues from SHP's energy production in terms of a hypothetical fluctuating market. Apart from securing the provision of EF regimes, HSA toolkit's outcome provided management practices that increased the total economic gains. Supporting the economic viability of SHPs and their environmental friendliness is needed to strengthen their role in the RE mix. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

• A Q method is developed to reach better understanding of renewable energy and electro-mobility inter-relations. • The potential synergies are analysed for the context of non-interconnected islands. • Insights received from 44 stakeholders were statistically processed to quantify the perspectives of stakeholders. • Three main perspectives are identified to represent the basic viewpoints. • Alternative pathways are identified supporting a structured and straightforward policy decision-making. Introducing sustainable ways to use energy and transport resources is of paramount importance for creating pathways to more liveable futures. Islands not interconnected to the main grid offer, because of their typically small size, short point-to-point travel distances that suit better than most landscapes the range limitations of today's electromobile eco-systems. This makes them a unique test-bed that may assist researchers, businesses and policy-makers in developing a better understanding of the diverse opportunities and challenges that come with supporting electric-drive vehicle (EV) infrastructure investments that actively prioritise renewable energy sources (RES). This paper reports the findings of a Q method study that looks into the attitudes of 44 key stakeholders that have a thorough theoretical and empirical knowledge of the existing power and mobility portfolios in such islandic landscapes. Our analysis identifies and presents three distinct groups of stakeholders with different priorities and visions: the 'Tech Enthusiasts', the 'Transform Transport First Supporters' and the 'Fiscal Focus Executives'. All our respondents agree on the need for radically transforming the current transport-energy nexus offering. They identify the importance of integrated and clean solutions and recognise that support of pilot applications is more critical than research and development (R&D). They also expect technological breakthroughs to increase market maturities and reduce renewable energy production costs and feel that end-users are still hesitant to buy EVs and need incentives to do so. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The need for energy in rural and remote areas is increasing, and it is exacerbated in developing countries. The wellbeing of communities and citizens depends on access to clean electricity to improve quality of life. An uninterrupted supply of electricity is one of the sustainable development goals (SDGs) that has highlighted the needs and challenges in remote areas. The complexity of designing strategies and solutions is further augmented for villages located in protected areas, national parks, and wildlife refuges, the conservation of which is fundamental to achieving climate, environmental, and ecologic objectives. Fossil fuel-based electricity generation and large-scale transmission networks pose a potential threat to the achievement of SDGs in such areas. This research investigated the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) technology as a renewable energy source (RES) that can cover energy needs of rural areas in a continuous, secure, and sustainable manner. In this study, the feasibility of using solar energy to electrify remote settlements located in protected areas of Iran (Khorasan-e-Razavi) was evaluated using a multi-criteria, GIS-based methodology. A set of criteria was selected to evaluate the suitability of solar PV, including solar irradiance and duration, aspect, temperature, precipitation, and humidity as well as proximity to faults, roads, and rivers. Using the best worth method (BWM), the relative weight of the selected criteria was calculated. The results showed that almost 2% of the region's area is very highly suitable and another 23.5% is highly suitable. This 25% represents an area of 1500 km2 and includes 63 villages. Evaluation of census data showed that available building areas can cover the villages' residential demand using rooftop PV systems. Nonetheless, local and national government support is necessary to develop an effective strategy that results in successful implementation. • A fuzzy approach was used to evaluate influential factors of solar photovoltaic (PV) deployment. • The Best-Worth Method (BWM) was employed to calculate the relative weights of selected factors. • Build-up areas can cover villages' residential demand using rooftop PV systems. • Integrating GIS and BWM proved to be an effective technique to create suitability maps. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]