Whether it’s a luxury off-grid private island retreat or a secluded eco-friendly getaway, the best way to enjoy your paradise is to ensure its sustainable use of clean, renewable energy sources. This means you need to make sure that everything that runs on electricity is powered by clean energy, and this also includes your personal appliances and sewage systems. Getting your island off-grid isn’t always easy, though, and the infrastructure needed to sustain life on an isolated island requires significant investments.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways that private islands can be set up to generate their own power. The most common is to install solar panels, which capture the sun’s rays and convert them into electricity by the photovoltaic effect. This electricity can then be stored in batteries and used for most or all of an island’s electrical needs, with a backup source like a generator taking over when the batteries run out. Many well-known private islands, such as Johnny Depp’s Little Hall’s Pond Cay and Nukabati Resort in Fiji, successfully operate on solar power for most or even all of their electricity needs.
Wind power is another option for off-grid power on a private island, and this type of energy can be particularly useful in areas that don’t receive much sunshine. For example, the secluded island owned by Dean Kamen at North Dumpling Island in Hawaii generates its electricity entirely from a massive array of wind turbines and solar panels.
The North Dumpling island is powered by a total of 57 kW of renewable energy, which is enough to fully support the secluded vacation home. Kamen’s system includes four Evergreen Solar ES series wind turbines that combine 180 and 205-W panels, plus three monster arrays of solar power, and his beefed-up version of the Stirling engine.
A back-up power source is often included with these renewable energy systems, and this is usually a diesel generator that can run at a relatively low output when the solar and wind systems are not running. These are typically employed on remote island locations, and they can be a good alternative to relying on power lines that can be damaged during severe storms or other issues.
Of course, for the very smallest and most remote islands, a small gasoline generator is likely going to be the best option. These can be fueled via regular deliveries by sea or air, which are important if your island is located in an area without direct access to electrical power lines. On smaller, privately-owned islands, this isn’t as big of a problem because the residents can restrict their electricity consumption by switching to LED lighting and using the generator only when absolutely necessary. Still, these types of generators can be very noisy and produce a lot of pollution, so they’re not ideal for a secluded island. This is one of the reasons why some private island owners choose to go off-grid and use wind and solar energy instead.