Independent energetic grids for a smart island: Model and design of a microgrid for a small Italian island

Unlike many Italian peninsular areas, which are increasingly turning to a diverse supply of renewable resources to generate electricity, Italian not-interconnected small islands continue to rely on oil for their electricity and other energy needs (e.g. transports). Small-scale electricity systems, that are not connected to a larger electricity grid, are usually more expensive. The present paper proposes the functional design of an innovative Smart Grid which allows changing an Italian small not-interconnected island, Pantelleria, into a smart island, towards a more sustainable energy model. In detail, a techno-economic feasibility study is performed in order to design a Smart Grid at Pantelleria Island. The study identifies innovative architectures and characteristics of the main components of the Smart Grid as well as the characteristics both in quantitative and qualitative terms of the renewable energy technologies and electric storage systems to be installed in order to reduce the dependence on fossil energy sources and activate the distribution network of the island.