Islands generation issues: coupling wind-solar resources with pumped hydroelectric storage, a seducing solution

The energy problem of islands differs from those in mainland countries because islands need to manage their own energy supplies. The islands are good test beds for the utilization of renewable energy production and storage technologies. We present the main problems related to the electrical production in small islands and by the utilization of renewable energy plants; the necessity to integrate some energy storages is shown and various storage means are classified. At last, the hydro pumping storage will be presented as a good solution for participating to the increase of the penetration rate of renewable energies, particularly in island electrical grid.