Feasibility studies regarding the installation of solar-PVs in municipal buildings in Crete
About this good practice
Feasibility studies regarding the installation of solar-PVs in municipal buildings in Crete
Island of Crete has abundant solar energy resources which are currently utilized for energy generation. The use of solar energy for electricity generation in municipal buildings in Crete is very limited. The energy performance of municipal buildings in Crete is rather poor. Cretan municipalities have not the technical expertise and the financial resources to study, design and install solar-PV systems in their municipal buildings. Higher educational institutes in Crete have energy experts who can study and promote the installation of benign energy systems, like solar-PVs, in local municipalities. Their installation reduces the grid electricity in municipal buildings improving their energy performance. Financial resources were available through the Regional Operational Program of Crete, 2013-2020, while they were used for increasing the utilization of solar-PVs in municipal buildings in Crete.
Installation of solar-PVs in the roof-terrace of municipal buildings in Crete decreases their CO2 emissions due to energy use reaching the objectives of ZEROCO2 project.
The good practice was implemented with the cooperation of the Mediterranean University of Crete who designed the necessary solar-PV systems that should be installed in municipal buildings in Crete.
The main beneficiaries of the good practice were the municipalities of Crete and the Mediterranean University of Crete.
Resources needed
The financial resources used in this good practice were 200,000 Euros. The human resources – on behalf of the Managing authority of Crete - to set up and run this good practice are estimated equivalent to 0.8 years full time work of an energy expert and his secretarial support.
Evidence of success
This practice:
a) Utilizes solar-PV electricity in municipal buildings reducing their carbon emissions due to energy use,
b) Increases the energy security and self-sufficiency of the building stock in the municipalities in Crete,
c) It can be easily transferred in other,
d) EU policies prioritize RES use in public buildings compared to private buildings, and
e) The solar-PV technology is mature, reliable and cost-effective.
Potential for learning or transfer
This good practice identified in the region of Crete could be interesting for other regions for various reasons including:
-Public buildings in many EU territories do not utilize RES,
-The solar-PV technology used is mature, reliable, well-known and cost-effective,
-Energy experts in solar energy in local Universities can advise and support local municipalities,
-Buildings in EU consume large amounts of energy and emit large quantities of carbon,
-In many EU countries local and regional authorities have not the available financial resources to finance the use of RES in public buildings. The availability of EU structural funds offers a good opportunity to finance the use of RES in some public buildings in their territories,
-Public private partnership (PPP) through ESCOs offers an alternative way to achieve use of RES in public buildings. However, in many EU countries, including in Greece, this financial mechanism is not used while energy saving companies are not well developed.
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.