Feasibility Study of a Hybrid Solar and Wind Power System for an Island Community in The Bahamas

Renewable energy in The Bahamas holds promise as an alternative for electricity production, however, the country is heavily reliant on fossil fuels for electricity. This study examines the benefits of solar and wind energy on a community scale on the island of New Providence in The Bahamas and helps understand key factors that affect the implementation of hybrid renewable energy systems in an island community. The electricity usage of 500 homes (a mix of luxury and normal) is produced by a combined power generation system that includes rooftop photovoltaics and a wind turbine. The system is grid connected and assumes a net billing policy because of the lack of a net metering policy and incentives. For the study, an economic analysis along with sensitivity and risk analyses are performed to determine the system’s feasibility and how its viability is affected by the uncertainty in its parameters. To perform the analysis, the RETScreen software suite is used. It is found that a combination of solar and wind for electricity generation is economically feasible in The Bahamas, even with the lack of incentives, where the net present value is within the range of US$14.0 million to US$25.1 million with a 95% confidence. Additionally, it is seen that current fuel costs and the initial cost of the system play key roles in the degree to which the system is feasible.