Sustainable Microgrid Solution for Improving Energy Resilience on Coco's Island

This paper presents a resource evaluation study and investment proposal to improve the energy resiliency of Coco's Island National Park by proposing a microgrid system integrating existing infrastructure with renewable energy sources. The study focuses on mitigating the island's dependence on fossil fuels, especially during dry seasons, by enhancing the use of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems, battery energy storage systems (BESS), and hydropower. Key numerical results include a current average energy demand of 137 kWh/day and a projected peak of 20.5 kW. The baseline scenario estimates an investment of $175 000 USD for a 100% PV + BESS system, while a more cost-effective scenario integrating hydropower and PV+BESS suggests an investment of $61 780 USD. The paper employs simulation software like PVGIS to estimate renewable energy potential and design optimal configurations for energy generation and storage, enhancing the island's energy autonomy.