Renewable Energy System Design for a Commercial Facility in Trinidad and Tobago

Abstract

The objective of this study is to design, optimize and evaluate an appropriate renewable energy (RE) system for a commercial facility in Trinidad and Tobago (TT). An energy load profile was developed and utilized in HOMER Pro software to generate simulated models. Sensitivity analyses were conducting varying subsidy and sell back rates. The analysis showed that the facility had an associated electrical consumption of 56644 kWh/yr. with emissions of 39651 kgCO2/yr. In terms of possible scenarios, an optimized 15kW system grid tied PV system without grid sell back at an unsubsidized rate of 0.12 US$/kWh, performed with a 34.2% RF, 0.11 US$/kWh LCOE, 26720 kgCO2/yr emissions and has an IRR of 8.83% with 9.44 years simple payback. A 58kW grid tied PV system using the unsubsidized rate of 0.12 US$/kWh and sell back rate of 0.0865 US$/kWh was favorable with a RF of 77.4%, 15884 kgCO2/yr. emissions and has an IRR of 7.5% with 10.46 years simple payback. The LCOE was 0.0587 US$/kWh, almost equal to subsidized grid power cost of 0.06 US$/kWh. The results clearly demonstrated that RE systems such as grid tied PV are relevant in TT if systems such as Net Metering, Net Billing or sale of surplus electricity is factored and supported through regulation changes such as subsidy reductions in TT’s energy policy.