Abstract:
Renewable energies use in agricultural greenhouses results in the reduction of their
environmental impacts. Aim of the current work is the investigation of using small wind turbines
in greenhouses located in Crete, Greece for electricity generation. Crete hosts the majority of
greenhouses in Greece which are mainly used for vegetable production. Use of wind turbines
like other distributed electricity generation technologies has many economic and environmental
benefits and they are highly desirable. The wind energy potential in various locations in Crete
has been estimated as well as the electricity generated by small wind turbines from existing
studies. In locations with high average annual wind speeds in Crete the cost of wind electricity is
lower than the cost of grid electricity. In some of these locations there is a high concentration of
greenhouses. Provided that net-metering regulations allow, additionally to solar electricity,
generation of wind electricity use of small wind turbines in greenhouses with high annual
electricity demand in Crete is economically profitable and environmentally attractive. Our results
could help greenhouse growers as well as local authorities to promote the use of small wind
turbines in Cretan greenhouses improving their environmental sustainability. |
