Can the electricity sector be 100% renewable in the Faroe Islands?

In 2030 the electricity sector in the Faroe Islands should be 100% renewable, according to the local electrical power company SEV. It is therefore necessary to study, how this goal can be reached with the minimum costs. This can be determined through optimisation of the future electricity sector. This paper presents such an optimisation.

How is electricity produced in the Faroe Islands?

Electricity on the Islands is currently produced through a combination of fossil (about 100 MW) and renewable sources (about 62 MW) . Fig. 1. Placing the Faroe Islands, inset in red [ 50 ]. Space heating on the islands is primarily from oil burners and in 2016 made up 24% of the imported oil usage [ 51 ].

Does the Faroe Islands have a solar park?

The Faroe Islands have a solar park with a 250 kW capacity in Sumba. It is expected to produce 160 MWh/year (i.e. a capacity factor of 7.3% and equivalent to 35 tons of oil), mainly in the summer when rain and wind are low.

Will Faroese achieve 100 percent green electricity by 2030?

The Island's power company, SEV, has a stated goal of achieving a “100% green electrical energy onshore by 2030.” Furthermore, there are incentives in place to encourage Faroese consumers to purchase heat pumps and electric vehicles while the district heating system is also being expanded [ 53 ].

What are the key innovations in energy planning for the Faroe Islands?

The key innovations of this paper for islands, and global energy transition planning, are: The central incorporation of social perspectives into the energy planning for the Faroe Islands via explicit elicitation of criteria weights of local stakeholders.

Is offshore wind power a development preference for the Faroe Islands?

In the case of the Faroe Islands, offshore wind power was not directly evaluated for development preference . However, in narrative analysis offshore technologies were suggested to be preferable to onshore technologies.