Power Grids on Islands: from Dependency to Sustainability?

Abstract

Island territories are often blessed with abundant renewable resources, but tend to depend mainly on imported petroleum products for power generation, as shown by a comparative study of several islands' energy mixes. Furthermore, power supply is usually less reliable on islands. Increasing the share of intermittent renewables like sun or wind could worsen grid stability problems. However, technical solutions that are adapted to islands' generation and grid specificities are emerging. For small generating capacities, renewable-based technologies tend to be more cost effective than a diesel generator - but they are land-consuming. Various examples show how a balanced generation mix, coupled with adapted storage means, is a potent lever for increasing the penetration of renewables. Hybrid generation systems like wind-hydro combine renewability with reliability. But as of today it seems difficult to do without fossil fuels. For renewables to become predominant, an overall reflection on an island's actual need for power reliable has to be conducted.