Three months after signing the contract, LUCELEC and US-based solar energy company, GROUPOTEC, and other stakeholders gathered last week for the ground breaking ceremony for the 3 MW solar PV project in Saint Lucia. This will be Saint Lucia’s first utility-scale renewable energy project. Diesel generators currently account for over 99% of the islands energy matrix. “LUCELEC’s efforts to add utility-scale renewable energy to its generation mix began as far back as 2002. It’s been a long, and sometimes challenging road since then. It is, therefore, extremely gratifying to finally break ground on this 3 MW solar farm,” said LUCELEC’s managing director Trevor Louisy.
Energy Minister Stephenson King said that the government applauds LUCELEC for its pioneering efforts in the area of utility-scale renewable energy generation. “We reiterate our continued support and partnership in such undertakings and best wishes are extended for successful project build out and commencement of operations of this 3 MW solar farm,” he added.
Rocky Mountain Institute-Carbon War Room and The Clinton Climate Initiative, an initiative of the Clinton Foundation, alongside global energy and engineering advisory firm DNV GL, provided technical assistance throughout the process of selecting the top solar firm – managing an international open procurement process
In 2016, LUCELEC and the Saint Lucia government jointly developed the National Energy Transition Strategy (NETS), a 20-year energy road map informed by technical analysis from RMI-CWR and CCI that paves the road for a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective and equitable electricity sector using the island’s local resources.
