Increasing the penetration of renewable energy resources in S. Vicente, Cape Verde

In this article different scenarios are analysed with the objective of increasing the penetration of renewable energies in the energy system of S. Vicente Island in Cape Verde. An integrated approach is used to analyse the electricity and water supply systems. The H2RES model, a tool designed to simulate the integration of renewable sources and hydrogen in the energy systems of islands or other isolated locations, is applied.There is no other source of fresh water available to supply the population of S. Vicente, apart from desalinated seawater. The electricity supply system of this Island is based on fossil fuel and wind. S. Vicente has important wind resources that are not fully used because of its intermittent nature. The topography of this Island is relatively uniform, with the exception of Mont Verde, a 774 m high mountain located in its centre, which could be suitable for pumped hydro storage.The present analysis incorporates the possibility of using pumped hydro as a storage technique to increase the penetration of renewable energy sources, using desalinated seawater.The results show that is possible to have more than 30% of yearly penetration of renewable energy sources in the electricity supply system, together with more than 50% of the water supplied to the population produced from wind electricity.