SMEDE

S.MED.E Pantelleria S.p.A. is an electricity supply company operating in the island of Pantelleria (south of Sicily, Italy), where it owns and operates the power station (installed power between 20 and 25 MW) and the electric energy distribution system in the whole island. For more than 40 years, SMEDE has served the community living in the island of Pantelleria as the only supplier of electricity. SMEDE has carried out several investments for enhancing the energetic performances and reducing environmental impacts of the oil-fired power station. The interest has been focused recently also to the use of renewable energies and the integration of RE-based systems into the small and delicate electric grid of the island. In the field of scientific research, several pilot systems have been tested within the power station for the specific purpose of energy consumptions optimisation and possible coupling with discontinuous renewable energy systems and waste heat sources.
A remarkable knowledge has been gained during more than 40 years experience in the field of operation and management of power stations and distribution grids in remote islands (c.a. 7.000 users), while developing a unique capability in the ordinary and extraordinary maintenance services in order to ensure the highest level of reliability and continuity of electricity supply. The management protocols, specifically developed for the sites where SMEDE operates, allowed the enhancement of energy efficiencies as well as reduction of maintenance costs for the main units and related ancillary equipment. SMEDE has also worked in cooperation with another company (SOFIP) for the installation of the first vapour thermocompression seawater desalination modules in the islands of Pantelleria (installed peak power around 2 MW), with important consequences in the re-design and operation of the electricity generation and distribution systems in the island.