IEEE Electrification Magazine - June 2017 - 65

ENEWABLE OFF-GRID SOLUTIONS ARE
steadily growing in both developed and
developing countries (R. Kempener et al.
2015). With the decreasing cost and improving performance of small hydro installations, solar power, wind power, and energy storage
systems, renewable energy is expected to supplement
or replace existing diesel grids on islands and in remote areas.
Denmark is a front-runner for renewable energy utilization. In 2015, wind power generation supplied 42.2% of
the electricity consumed. The Danish parliament entered
a new energy agreement in 2012 and set a target of 50%
wind power penetration by 2020, 100% renewable energy
penetration for electricity and heat by 2035, and a totally
renewable-based energy system by 2050, including electricity, heat, transport, and industry (Project Zero 2012). To
realize the long-term Danish energy plan, more renewables will be deployed on island power systems and fossil
fuel consumption will be replaced by renewables. For
island power systems connected to the main grid through
a cable, off-grid solutions are essential for the renewablebased island power system to ensure security and reliability of power supply.
In Greenland, the latest plan is to be 100% self-sufficient with green energy by 2024 (Dansk Energi 2016). Most
of the renewables expansion in Greenland will be hydropower. The target is to have over 80% of the electricity
consumed supplied by hydropower. Solar power will play
a major role in the future energy system of Greenland,
where the inhabitants live in small communities. Due to
the self-contained nature of Greenland communities,
each town generates its own energy and distributes it via
a microgrid. In larger towns supplied with hydropower,
electric boilers are connected to an available local district
heating network.

experiences of Off-Grid Renewable energy
Integration for Small Villages in Greenland

Using smart-grid
technologies to ensure
secure, reliable energy
for island power systems.

Digital Object Identifier 10.1109/MELE.2017.2685959
Date of publication: 31 May 2017

The environmental conditions in Greenland are harsh.
Solutions proven technically feasible and economical in
Denmark still require a careful evaluation under local
conditions. Here, we present the experience from three
projects investigating renewable off-grid solutions for
Greenland communities.

A Hybrid Wind-Diesel Isolated
Power System in Sarfannguaq
Sarfannguaq is a small community of 116 people in the
Sisimiut municipality on the west coast of Greenland. Sarfannguaq's power is mainly supplied by three diesel generators-two 220-kVA Stamford generators and an older
135-kVA Scania generator. Sarfannguaq also largely relies on
diesel for heating through private oil-fired boilers. No district heating system is available for utilization of heat generated in the diesel-generator sets. The use of wind energy
IEEE Electrific ation Magazine / j une 2 0 1 7

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of IEEE Electrification Magazine - June 2017