Techno-economic analysis of a cost-effective power generation system for off-grid island communities : a case study of Gilutongan Island, Cordova, Cebu, Philippines

Off-grid, rural island communities seldom have access to electricity and for those that do, the quality and availability are unsatisfactory. Gilutongan Island is one of the many off-grid islands in the Philippines with very limited access to electricity. Residents are provided with electricity from 6:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. through a 194-kVA diesel generator, paying US$ 0.14 per bulb and US$ 0.16 per outlet. Payment for electricity is collected on a daily basis with collections usually amounting to US$ 74.32 per day. With consumption totalling to 276 kW for 4.5 h, this roughly translates to a cost of US$ 1.21 per kWh. Using Hybrid Optimisation Model for Electric Renewables (HOMER), this paper presents a techno-economic analysis of a proposed cost-effective power generation system for the island, aiming to provide electricity access to the residents 24 h a day with reduced energy cost. Two options are considered: diesel-solar hybrid and solar only. Considering location constraints of the island, the hybrid system proves to be more effective, reducing cost of energy by 70% to US$ 0.3556 per kWh. Determining the load profile of the island is imperative in creating the system, dictating its size and capacity, which in turn affects its sustainability.The authors would like to extend their gratitude to the CHEDNewton Fund Institutional Links project of the University of San Carlos (USC) Center for Research in Energy Systems and Technologies (CREST), under the leadership of Isabelo A. Rabuya, for granting the opportunity to conduct this research. Acknowledgement is also due to the Sustainable Energy Research Group (SERG) of the University of Southampton (UoS) under the guidance of Prof. AS Bahaj for making this work possible and for providing the necessary tools to complete this paper; to the DOST-ERDT program for providing support; to the USC School of Engineering, under the deanship of Prof. Dr. Evelyn B. Taboada, for continuing to find prospects for advancement; and to the CREST research assistants, especially to Arben Vallente and Gelly Ann Zamora, for their invaluable support to the data gathering of this work