Dottorato in ENERGIA E AMBIENTE

Titolo della tesi: Renewable Energy Sources Assessment Using Remote Sensing Techniques and Off-grid System Studies

Abstract- In recent decades, Climate change and environmental concerns have pushed mankind to be more innovative in finding new, pollution-free and more eco-friendly energy sources to replace the fossil fuels that we are so heavily dependent on. On the other hand, a transition to alternative, low-carbon and Renewable Energy Sources (RES) is now a fact even if fossil fuels still cover about 80% of the total primary energy consumption. One aspect of this dependency on fossil fuels is the annual release of more than 4.5 million tons of oil in sea and ocean waters. Global energy demand is expected to increase by 35% between 2010 and 2040 which adds greater stress to find alternative energy sources and currently represent a possible solution for European countries to achieve the objectives of Directive 2009/28/EC, which endorsed the mandatory target of 30% of energy from renewable sources within the overall European Community (EC) by 2030, and in particular to get the targets of greenhouse gas emissions reduction reported in the 2050 EU Energy Roadmap. In this case, the ocean and sea has acquired a great importance thanks to its great potential due to the vastness of the source and to the different options to exploit it. In fact, energy from the ocean and sea can be exploited in two ways, i) renewable sources such as wind, geothermal, solar, waves and tidal and ii) nonrenewable sources such as oil and gas. There are several different kinds of methods can be used to estimated renewable energy source assessment such as, In situ measurement’s (cup anemometers and buoys), satellite image data (RADAR and optical), on site remote sensing tools (LIDAR and SODAR), numerical simulation and reanalysis dataset (MERRA, ECMWF, NARR). All these methods such as cup anemometers, buoys or even on set remote sensing method such as LIDAR and SODAR to assess the RESs is not only burdensome and expensive but also time demanding for the user to get access to the data. Thus, a preliminary analysis is needed; one of the most well-known ways are the retrieval of renewable potential and marine pollution detection, mapping, documentation, assessment and reporting from satellites Remote Sensing (RS) data and dataset. In this context, Remote Sensing satellite can provide data to determine marine pollution and renewable energies production potential and observational activity to identify, assess and detect suitable points in small and large areas, also can provide data to observation, recording, documentation and dissemination of the information gathered and used as a preparedness measure to monitor oil spill areas. For this target, European Space Agency (ESA) has developed and designed and launched a new family of satellite missions called Sentinels (Sentinel 1 to Sentinel 6) specifically for the operational needs of the Copernicus Earth Observation program. Free and open Sentinels data access (unlimited policy) is provided. The Sentinel Application Platform (SNAP) is a free software the enables the user to handle Sentinel data (Free access and unlimited data policy). These satellites can be used by researchers in various sciences for land and ocean monitoring to provide, for instance: imagery of vegetation and forest, soil and water cover, inland waterways, coastal areas, emergency services, oil spill, ship detection, sediment detection and land covering. In this thesis, RSs technologies, methods and techniques used for renewable energy source potential assessment and marine pollution have been analysed and classified as follow: • Oil spills detection by using optical and SAR satellites. • Wind energy potential analysis using SAR satellite to Wind Turbine Generators (WTGs) installations. For this purpose, SAR images from the Sentinel satellites family and in situ measurement data has been used to different case studies as follow: • Oil spill detection in Persian Gulf • Nearshore wave energy assessment and Wave Energy Converters (WECs) installations: case studies Persian Gulf, Oman Sea, Caspian Sea and Mediterranean Islands (Favignia Small Island). 3 • Wind energy potential analysis in Mediterranean Islands: case studies Sicily, Sardinia, Favignina and Samothraki Small Islands. • Wind speed analysis using Sentinel-1 images and compared with SCADA data: a case study Swedish offshore wind farm installed in Baltic Sea In order to assess offshore and nearshore RESs potential and also detect oil spills area, in situ measurement data and satellite images have been analysed by means of the SNAP, ADIOS, HOMER, GIS, MATLAB and ENVI software’s. Consequentially, several hot spots (HSs) characterized by high-energy potential have been identified as possible sites for future implementation of WTGs and WECs. The proposed methodology that uses SAR satellite images for a preliminary wind and waves energies potential assessment and mapping could be used for further researches on offshore and nearshore WTGs and WECs installations. Results relative to the different case studies are shown. Keywords: Renewable energy source, Water pollution, Sentinel Family satellites, Wind speed, Oil detection, WTGs and WECs installations.