Framework for decentralized energy and enhanced resilience on islands

The document introduces a framework to transition island states from vulnerable centralized grids to resilient decentralized renewable energy systems. Using Cuba as a test case, it demonstrates how identifying 'disruption hotspots' and applying context-specific modelling can maintain power supply during extreme weather events, though it notes that such resilience often requires higher upfront capital investments.

• Island states face heightened energy insecurity due to a combination of increasing hydroclimatic hazards, reliance on expensive fossil fuel imports, and aging centralized grid infrastructure that is prone to cascading failures.
• The proposed five-step framework for enhancing resilience involves: 1) creating a synthetic network to find vulnerable hotspots using centrality metrics; 2) conducting disruption analysis to measure the spread of power failure; 3) using HOMER Pro to design cost-optimal DRE solutions; 4) integrating local contextual factors; and 5) evaluating resilience improvements.
• Testing the framework in Cuba revealed that municipalities with high concentrations of industrial and large building electricity demand are most susceptible to single-point failures; specifically, seven of the ten highest-risk hotspot municipalities were located in Havana.
• In the Cuban case study, the US embargo significantly impacted energy costs and technology access, resulting in capital investment costs for DRE systems that were 5-40% higher than in a global scenario, with more pronounced differences in the levelized cost of electricity (LCOE).
• Decentralized renewable energy solutions, particularly ancillary systems (AS), significantly improve power supply during disruptive events compared to everyday operations, with supplied loads increasing by up to 66% in the global scenario (AS1) and 56% in the Cuban scenario (AS2).
• The analysis concludes that there are no universal solutions for island energy resilience; effective implementation requires trade-offs between high initial investments and long-term societal benefits, as well as collaboration between grid operators, researchers, and authorities to ensure models reflect real-world conditions.

APA

Gong, J., & Muthukumaran, G. (2024). Framework for decentralized energy and enhanced resilience on islands. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/182923/framework-for-decentralized-energy-and-enhanced-resilience-on-islands.pdf

Chicago

Gong, Jindan, and Gowtham Muthukumaran. Framework for decentralized energy and enhanced resilience on islands. Stockholm Environment Institute, 2024. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/182923/framework-for-decentralized-energy-and-enhanced-resilience-on-islands.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gong |first1=Jindan |last2=Muthukumaran |first2=Gowtham |title=Framework for decentralized energy and enhanced resilience on islands |publisher=Stockholm Environment Institute |date=December 2024 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/182923/framework-for-decentralized-energy-and-enhanced-resilience-on-islands.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gong2024framework, author = {Gong, Jindan and Muthukumaran, Gowtham}, title = {{Framework for decentralized energy and enhanced resilience on islands}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/182923/framework-for-decentralized-energy-and-enhanced-resilience-on-islands.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }