The Future: A Shift to Hybrid Systems
The future of power generation in Micronesia is not the elimination of gensets, but their integration into Renewable Energy (RE) – Diesel Hybrid Systems.
This is the current and most promising trend:
- Solar-Diesel Hybrids: This is the most common model being implemented. Solar arrays are installed at power plants and on buildings. During sunny days, the solar power displaces a significant amount of diesel fuel. The gensets are switched on as the sun sets or when demand is high.
- Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS): Coupling solar with large batteries allows excess solar energy to be stored and used at night, further reducing genset runtime. This can allow gensets to be switched off completely for several hours.
- International Support: This transition is heavily supported by international donors and development partners (like the World Bank, ADB, and governments of the US, Japan, and Australia) who provide funding and technical expertise to help overcome the high initial investment costs.