By the time the 800 kW wind turbine blades on the shore began to rotate, the Greek island of Tilos would be the first island in the Mediterranean to rely entirely on wind and solar power.
From the map, Tilos is located between Rhodes Island and Kos Island. On this seahorse-shaped island, there are only 400 people living in winter. But in the summer, 3,000 people will board the island and enjoy The sea breeze of the Aegean Sea, at the same time, has put tremendous pressure on its dilapidated power system. In order to solve the problem once and for all, this summer, technicians have made major changes to their power systems. Later this year, a new set of renewables The energy system will begin to operate, and by then, the island will rely entirely on wind turbines and solar cells to become a test field for the human energy revolution.
(Wind generators on the island of Tilos, picture from Techxplore)
The European Commission said that Tilos Island will become the first pure green island in the Mediterranean and will also be a model project. There are many islands separated from the mainland power grid on the Mediterranean coast, and the future can follow the example of Tilos. The model. For this project, the EU has provided a lot of money, and the cost of the project in Tilos is as high as 13.7 million euros.
The special feature of this project is not just the source of its energy. Project manager Spyros Aliferis said: 'The innovation of this project lies in its way of energy storage, which is the innovation. Wind turbines and The energy generated by photovoltaic power generation will be stored in the battery so that when needed, this energy can be used in the grid.
Because power generation and electricity consumption are relatively small, the battery can fully assume its function of power storage on the island. On a sunny windy day, the battery continuously accumulates energy, and when the demand is strong, the power generation is declining – for example, Night and tourist season - released, enough to maintain the power supply of the grid.
This project is named after Tilos. Its core is a prototype battery system with good power storage capacity. In order to lay out the system, the project personnel built the building on the island, not only overhauling the power grid, but also replacing the smart home for every household. Electric meter, to accurately calculate the peak time of demand.
Before the new system was in operation, the residents of Tilos Island still had to rely on an old submarine cable to function for themselves. And this cable had to be connected to the island of Nisyros from the mainland and then to the island of Tilos. This has led to very unstable power supply on the island, which has greatly shortened the life of electrical appliances and made diesel generators a standard for every household.
Although the island of Tilos is not as dazzling as the islands of Mykonos and Santorini, as a resort that enjoys a 'green island', it also welcomes an average of 13,000 visitors a year. The reason for this is the name. The island’s natural environment is the biggest reason, and the perennial visits of hikers and bird watchers are evidence. In the future, Mayor Maria Kammas sees the green energy system as the next step’ Green' step.
'Over the years, Tilos has been planning a road to environmental protection,' she said. 'We want to attract people who love the environment and are passionate about protecting the environment and nature to come to our island.'
Like most islands, tourism is the main source of income for the island, but it is trapped in the dilapidated power system, the hotel does not have stable air conditioning, the restaurant lights are extinguished, and the food in the refrigerator is simply not preserved. Good tourist experience is undoubtedly nonsense.
The island's hotel owner, Sevasti Delaporta, began paying close attention to the project two years ago. Initially, the residents of Tilos were mostly suspicious of the idea, but as the test went smoothly, it was perfect after the summer peak. The test, all doubts disappeared. Drabata said: 'I am very optimistic about this project. As a company, from the hotels I operate, the negative events are decreasing. No problems with refrigerators and air conditioners, people are serving very satisfied. '
(Solar panels on Tilos Island, image courtesy of Techxplore)
During the long, sunny day in summer, the average temperature on the island is 33°C. Visitors go to the beach early in the morning and then sleep until the afternoon. At night, when the store is open for business, residents and tourists flock to bars and cafes. This island is really active.
Eva Lemaier has been on the island every year for more than 20 years. Even from the Netherlands, the world's most environmentally-friendly country, Tilos's green policy still impressed her. 'I am Tilos. I am proud because they are now using renewable energy. I think it is a good thing for the island to get rid of dependence on other islands.'