Meeting energy demand and global warming by integrating renewable energy into the grid

Capricorn Coast´s is the most promising and growing regions in Queensland, Australia due to the national and international ecological icon Great Keppel Island and the Great Barrier Reef. Over the last couple of decades, these places attracted the attention of the local communities, national and international tourists which caused steady growth of population in the Capricorn Coast region. This growing population has not only increased the electricity demand but also caused significant damages to the climate in many ways. In this study, a feasibility study has been carried out to explore the potential for deployment of both small-scale and large-scale renewable energy in the Capricorn Coast region to meet the growing energy demand and reduce global warming. Hybrid renewable energy model has been developed using HOMER and RETScreen simulation software to investigate the cost-economic and climate-friendly attributes of the systems. Simulation study clearly indicates that renewable energy not only meets the energy-crisis but it is also economically viable and can play an active role in improving climate of the Capricorn Coast region.