STUDY OF DIFFERENT ALTERNATIVES FOR THE OPERATION OF POWER PLANTS IN THE CANARY ISLANDS

Island electricity systems aim to adapt to the environmental expectations established by the European framework. For this reason, it is necessary to increase efforts to increase the penetration of renewables and optimize energy production. An extensive preliminary research study has been carried out on the current production system, its variables and its conditioning factors, with which a series of operating alternatives have been obtained that will optimize the energy production system through combustion technology (non-renewables) and combine them with the production of energy through renewable sources. renewables, complying both in dynamic response, security, scaling and integration with such systems, in terms of efficiency and power. The reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and the penetration of these renewable energies in the island's electricity systems will be increased. As has been proven in the research background, the usually established combination of power producing equipment is not the best to reduce pollution, and there are other possible combinations with better results. The study methodology followed leads to take measures based on: a) changing the type of fuel in the equipment that allows it, b) using the combination of less pollutant producing equipment with response capacity and c) considering the integration and incorporation of the pumped hydroelectric electric storage plant (PHES) "Chira-Soria" into Gran Canaria's electrical system. The different measures contribute to the improvement in the reduction of greenhouse gases (GHG) in a convincing way. Keywords: Isolated power system, Generation expansion planning, Energy transition, Insular electrical systems (IES), Energy policy, Canary Islands, Renewable energy, Pumped hydroelectric storage plant (PHES).