Caribbean's biggest solar-plus-storage project in progress

• Swiss energy storage space firm Leclanché has begun on a US$ 70 million solar and storage space microgrid project in St Kitts and also Nevis.

The system will certainly consist of a 35.7 MW solar farm and a 14.8 MW lithium-ion battery power storage system (BESS), as well as will give state-owned utility St Kitts Electric Company (SKELEC) with approximately a third (30% -35%) of the island's energy supply. Leclanché asserts it will be the Caribbean's biggest solar-plus storage space project on conclusion, as well as will eliminate 41,500 metric tonnes of carbon emissions in its very first year.

Timothy Harris, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis, stated the construct is a "considerable turning point" for the region, which will certainly assist the island to produce a more independent energy market and also lower reliance on fossil fuels.

The solar farm will certainly stand on obsolete agricultural land that had actually been utilized for sugar walking stick manufacturing near the capital Basseterre. Leclanché protected a 20-year lease on the land last year, and also SKELEC authorized a 20-year power acquisition agreement with the firm in exchange. Leclanché CEO Anil Srivastava stated at the time the develop "sends a solid signal to various other Caribbean countries ... that there is a cleaner, a lot more inexpensive and also feasible choice to diesel power."

The news comes specifically one year after a team of Caribbean and Latin American states, including the Dominican Republic and Haiti, committed to make sure an average 70% of installed power capability originates from eco-friendly sources by 2030.

" Today's groundbreaking marks a considerable milestone for our citizens, traveler economic situation, our wider organization community and undoubtedly the whole Caribbean region, in spite of the hold-ups caused by COVID-19," Harris said.

" This visionary project will certainly aid safeguard our energy independence, give long-lasting cost security and also lower our reliance on diesel fuel."