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Tourist activity strongly influences the energy consumption and the overall load profile of communities with isolated energy systems. One example is hotel sectors on small islands that are not connected to mainland energy distribution grids. The use of solar energy systems could be a smart option for reducing energy consumption and tackling seasonal fluctuation. The operation of a weak and isolated electric grid requires attention to the management of power profiles in very short time frames. Energy storage (thermal or electric), as well as building automation control technologies, can be utilised for these aims. In this context, the present paper illustrates a study conducted at a hotel located on Lampedusa Island (Italy) that was considering some energy-retrofit scenarios dealing with the exploitation of renewable energy sources and building automation control technologies. The hotel is equipped with an air-to-water heat pump able to fulfil air conditioning and domestic hot water demands. Data concerning the hotel's energy consumption was measured during summer months while yearly data was provided by the local electric utility company. Detailed simulation models have been validated by this data and used to assess the efficacy of retrofit scenarios and their effects on the average daily electric profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper addresses the issue of the transition from a traditional electrical system without automation to a newer active and smart system allowing the possibility of implementing Demand Side Management policies, for little islands not supplied by the main grid. In particular, the paper focuses on two main topics related to the definition of: • an effective control, monitoring and communication system as a tool for the full exploitation of the opportunities given by Demand Response policies; • some solutions for the automation of the end-users’ electrical installations, in order to offer to the utility flexibility to be used for the improvement of the generation and distribution efficiency. After a brief discussion on the international regulatory framework on automation and ICT applications for power systems, the paper presents a feasibility study, based on the characteristics of the island of Lampedusa, of a hierarchical architecture of a suitable control system and of some DSM enabling solutions for residential end-users. The proposed solutions are defined taking into account some main elements: • distribution grids in small islands are generally equipped with outdated and hardly automatable devices; • utilities in small islands have reduced budget for new investments; • not less important, the most of the inhabitants has low income and unfamiliarity with automation. Therefore, main features of the proposed DSM enabling technologies are low cost and ease of use. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]