St. Vincent island to get first solar-battery-storage microgrid

In mid-2018, St. Vincent and the Grenadines will be connecting its first microgrid to its power system. The EPC contract was signed in late December between St. Vincent and the Grenadines utility, VINLEC, and Curacao solar energy firm, EcoEnergy, N.V. for the utility’s first solar battery storage microgrid. The system, to be built on the island of Mayreau in the Grenadines, will produce enough energy to power the island for 6 to 10 hours per day. The microgrid will be designed to withstand the strongest Category V hurricanes, and will be instrumental in meeting national goals of greenhouse gas reduction and increase in renewable energy. Thornley Myers, CEO of VINLEC said, “As a multi-island State this project takes on additional dimensions as we look to gaining greater insights on such systems with an eye on similar projects on other islands.” Last year, VINLEC and the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines jointly developed the National Electricity Transition Strategy, an energy roadmap informed by the Islands Energy Program – the joint program between the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) and the Clinton Climate Initiative (CCI). The strategy identifies possible options for a sustainable, reliable, cost-effective, and equitable electricity sector using local resources. This project contract signing signifies progress, and demonstrates VINLEC’s and the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines’ continued commitment to changing the current electricity generation mix.

 

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