Assessing the Integration of Solar Power into Diesel-Powered Grids

How much solar power can a diesel-powered microgrid accommodate without compromising stability? The question seems simple, but the answer will determine the role that solar power will play in Canada’s off-grid systems.

From 2018 to 2019, we joined forces with Green Sun Rising to identify the conditions that enable an increase in the penetration rate of solar PV in diesel-PV hybrid microgrids. The challenge is clear: to replace as much diesel as possible without compromising the performance or reliability of the grids on which entire communities depend.

We began by identifying the restrictions that isolated grid operators impose on variable renewable energy sources. These rules, dictated by a need for caution, often set the actual limit on solar integration. We then assessed how various factors—such as output curtailment, panel configuration, and electricity rates—affect the financial viability of projects and the levelized cost of energy.

Our real-world research site played a key role: it allowed us to validate the results and formulate recommendations grounded in practice, not theory.

This work equips Green Sun Rising to better support its customers in the design and operation of hybrid systems. Ultimately, it moves off-grid networks toward a model in which solar power plays a greater role, diesel use declines, and electricity is cheaper to produce.