TRANSFORMING SMALL-ISLAND POWER SYSTEMS TECHNICAL PLANNING STUDIES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF VARIABLE RENEWABLES © IRENA 2018 Unless otherwise stated, material in this publication may be freely used, shared, copied, reproduced, printed and/or stored, provided that appropriate acknowledgement is given of IRENA as the source and copyright holder. Material in this publication that is attributed to third parties may be subject to separate terms of use and restrictions, and appropriate permissions from these third parties may need to be secured before any use of such material. Citation: IRENA (2018), Transforming small-island power systems: Technical planning studies for the integration of variable renewables, International Renewable Energy Agency, Abu Dhabi ISBN 978 – 92 – 9260 – 074 – 7 About IRENA The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) is an intergovernmental organisation that supports countries in their transition to a sustainable energy future, and serves as the principal platform for international co-operation, a centre of excellence, and a repository of policy, technology, resource and financial knowledge on renewable energy. IRENA promotes the widespread adoption and sustainable use of all forms of renewable energy, including bioenergy, geothermal, hydropower, ocean, solar and wind energy, in the pursuit of sustainable development, energy access, energy security and low-carbon economic growth and prosperity. www.irena.org Acknowledgements This report benefited from the reviews and comments of numerous experts, including Andrew Thorington (CARILEC), Andrew Daka (PPA), Justin Locke (CWR), Hannele Holttinen (VTT-IEA Task 25), Lukas Sigrist (Comillas Pontifical University), Flavio Fernandez and Jose Gomez (DigSilent), and Ben Kroposki and Michael Coddington (NREL). Tractebel experts Andrea Mannocchi, Guillaume Dekelver and Laurence Charlier reviewed key sections. IRENA colleagues Dolf Gielen, Asami Miketa, Daniel Russo, Emanuele Taibi and Isaac Portugal also provided valuable comments. Contributing authors: Francisco Gáfaro, Tomás Jil, Gayathri Nair and Manuel Coxe (IRENA) with Karim Karoui, Leonardo Rese, Silvia Pariente-David (Tractebel) and Constantin Delhaute (formerly with Tractebel). For further information or to provide feedback: [email protected]. This report is available for download: www.irena.org/publications. Disclaimer This publication and the material herein are provided “as is”. All reasonable precautions have been taken by IRENA to verify the reliability of the material in this publication. However, neither IRENA nor any of its officials, agents, data or other third-party content providers provides a warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied, and they accept no responsibility or liability for any consequence of use of the publication or material herein. The information contained herein does not necessarily represent the views of the Members of IRENA. The mention of specific companies or certain projects or products does not imply that they are endorsed or recommended by IRENA in preference to others of a similar nature that are not mentioned. The designations employed and the presentation of material herein do not imply the expression of any opinion on the part of IRENA concerning the legal status of any region, country, territory, city or area or of its authorities, or concerning the delimitation of frontiers or boundaries. Cover photograph from iStock. 2 TRANSFORMING SMALL-ISLAND POWER SYSTEMS FOREWORD Small Island Developing States (SIDS) face a range of pressing challenges, from coping with the effects of climate change to dependence on costly fuel imports to meet their energy needs. To address these challenges, SIDS have resolved to harness their vast renewable energy potential, with a view to strengthening climate resilience and improving energy security. Today, SIDS are at forefront of global efforts to tackle climate change and to make the transition to a sustainable energy future. A growing number of SIDS are striving for 100% renewable systems in the foreseeable future. With the steady cost decline of renewable-based technologies, SIDS have started transforming their power systems with increasing shares of solar and wind energy, thus reducing their energy import bills, creating local employment and powering sustainable economic growth. Integrating high shares of variable renewables into power systems is no longer a distant aspiration, but an exciting reality. Challenges, however, remain, including numerous technical barriers and the lack of local capacity to plan, operate and maintain these systems The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) works with SIDS to support their efforts to accelerate their energy transformation through the SIDS Lighthouses Initiative. In this context, the Agency supports SIDS in developing renewable energy roadmaps; provides policy and regulatory advice; supports project development; facilitates access to finance; and encourages the exchange of best practices TECHNICAL PLANNING STUDIES FOR THE INTEGRATION OF VARIABLE RENEWABLES IRENA also works with SIDS on assessing their system capacity to integrate variable renewables, both through support for grid-integration studies and by helping to outline ambitious, yet achievable, penetration targets. Building local capacity to plan, operate and maintain more flexible power systems is key in this regard. Transforming Small-island Power systems: Technical planning studies for the integration of variable renewables, highlights technical studies that can assist SIDS power system operators, particularly in identifying the technical challenges that must be addressed to integrate high shares of solar and wind energy, while considering system specificities, available resources and the need to maintain a secure and reliable power system. It outlines effective solutions, both at operational and expansion planning stages. Building on the wealth of experience and knowledge gained by IRENA in its work with SIDS in recent years, this technical guide lays out viable options to transform the power systems of SIDS and maximise their renewable energy potential. Adnan Z.