Because of the abundance of sun, wind, and geothermal activity on islands, they could be the ideal locations for renewable energy to take root. In addition, because it’s difficult to get electricity and other traditional sources of energy to isolated islands, the prices of this energy can be outrageous. According to an article in Renewable Energy World by Bill Scanlon, “In 2008, Hawaii’s average electricity rate exceeded 30 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh); and the price of electricity in the U.S. Virgin Islands was greater than 50 cents per kilowatt-hour — that’s more than five times the U.S. average.”

The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is working toward providing energy solutions for islands around the world. According to preliminary solar indexing done by NREL on the U.S. Virgin Islands, “Our data has confirmed that they have a good resource of solar.” NREL now has plans to install more comprehensive solar and wind measurement stations.

Although the cost of creating extensive renewable energy systems in the first place could be prohibitive to small island communities, there is the possibility to link more than one community so multiple islands can benefit from the new sources of energy. Islands in the Caribbean such as St. Lucia, Trinidad, and Granada all have great geothermal potential. “NREL is looking at connecting some of those islands with a geothermal resource to other islands via undersea cable. That way all the residents of those islands can share the costs and benefits.”

To read the full article in Renewable Energy World, click here.