Renewables to Save the Island from Islanding: The Cozumel Study Case

Cozumel Island in the Mexican Caribbean faces major reliability challenges due to deteriorating 34.5 kV submarine cables and reliance on costly diesel-fueled simple-cycle gas turbines (SCGTs). To assess alternatives, this study applies a case study methodology. First, national renewable energy targets and planning documents are examined to frame the context. Second, Cozumel’s grid is characterized through a single-line diagram and turbine specifications. Third, measured load, transmission, and generation data are analyzed, with particular focus on Hurricane Beryl (July 2024), which left most of the island without electricity for two days. Integrating renewable energy with SCGTs reserved for backup emerges as the most reliable and cost-effective pathway for Cozumel’s future energy supply.