Estimation of the potential of Power-to-Power systems in Pantelleria

Nowadays, the climate change threat represents the biggest challenge. The main cause is the emission of greenhouse gases (GHG), which are strictly related to fossil fuels exploitation. It is necessary to reassess the future scenarios in a sustainable way, where the use of renewable energy sources (RES) represents the pivotal point of the energy transition. The intermittent nature of RES requires a different strategy when compared to fossils resources. Energy storage systems represent the main solution to match energy consumption with production. In this framework, hydrogen storage represents one of the most valuable options. The hydrogen, obtained from water electrolysis, involves electricity from RES. In this case, hydrogen is a carbon-neutral energy carrier that can be used both as an end-use fuel, in the transport sector, and converted into electricity. The system configuration that exploits the RES linked to hydrogen storage is called Power-to-Power (P2P) system. It is a promising technology especially in isolated areas, like islands, that rely on fossil fuels and are not connected to the grid. In this work, the case of Pantelleria, an island in Italy, is carried out. This analysis wants to demonstrate if the P2P configuration can be environmentally and economically sustainable. In particular, if the system studied can supply both the residential load and the public transport demand. The work is developed starting from the study of the current energy configuration of the island. Then the residential load and public transportation load are evaluated. The RES production, represented by solar and wind sources, is estimated with the meteorological data extracted from PVGIS. These data have been used as input vectors in a techno-economic optimization tool able to minimize the LCOE. An economic analysis is conducted to compare different scenarios and estimate which is the most advantageous. Finally, an environmental analysis is performed, in particular the avoided CO2 emissions are evaluated.