Feasibility Study of Hybrid Microgrids with Green Hydrogen Production Capability for Kiribati

This paper presents the feasibility of greater renewable energy penetration in Tarawa, Kiribati, using green hydrogen. Using the load profile for South Tarawa, different scenarios are compared for their Net Present Cost (NPC) and Levelized Cost of Energy (LCOE) using the HOMER Pro software. With a lack of feasibility studies on different energy storage methods for Kiribati – this paper provides a unique insight into the possibility of hydrogen generation and usage in Kiribati. In contrast to battery storage, which has a LCOE of approximately USD $0.26/kWh, the use of green hydrogen can achieve a LCOE of approximately USD $0.30/ kWh. However, hydrogen systems pose no environmental issues during disposal or use unlike battery storage. As hydrogen production costs reduce, green hydrogen production may become more promising for Kiribati. In addition, the paper discusses the daily operation of a system that only uses green hydrogen. The production, storage, and use of hydrogen are also discussed in detail.