Empowering Rural Electrification in Honduras: An Integrated Assessment of PV/BESS and Productive Uses of Electricity in Gracias a Dios

Summary

Honduras faces challenges in rural electrification, with the Gracias a Dios department having the lowest rates. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) conducted a techno-economic assessment for deploying PV+BESS mini-grids to electrify schools, clinics, and support productive uses of energy (PUEs) in a hypothetical community. The analysis showed that a baseline diesel-only system had a levelized cost of energy (LCOE) of $0.64/kWh and 7.25 tons of CO2 emissions annually. By integrating PV+BESS and PUE loads (like cold storage for fisheries), the LCOE can drop to $0.42/kWh, with a net capital cost of $40,230 for a 50% renewable energy fraction, and even reducing CO2 emissions to 0.15 tons annually for a 100% renewable solution (capital cost of $99,670). This approach is projected to reduce post-harvest fish losses from 15% to 3% and more than double fishing cooperative operating income by 145% in the first year, making it a viable foundation for broader rural electrification.

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