150 kWp phase one sun2live ground-mounted solar power solution to save 160,860 kilograms of CO2 emissions annually

The government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) further strives toward the realisation of generating 20 per cent of its electricity from renewable energy resources by the year 2020. The installation of a 150 kWp clean power project on the Caribbean twin islands state, to be implemented shortly by the clean energy provider PV Energy Limited, marks the first step in Barbuda towards the final goal of 1MWp.

The grid-connected 150 kWp solar energy solution in Barbuda, diligently planned and adjusted to the site and weather conditions on the island, will generate about 229.9 MWh of “green power” a year and will thus avoid 160,860 kilograms of CO2 emissions annually. The entire installation of this first phase, comprising more than 600 polycrystalline photovoltaic modules, will cover an area of 2,000 square metres and is planned for the Antigua’s Public Utilities Authority’s (APUA) property next to the airport in the west of Barbuda.

“Once again, the implementation of this significant renewable energy project emphasises Antigua and Barbuda’s pioneering role in terms of becoming one of the greenest electricity sector in the whole of the Caribbean”, states Mr. Andre Matthias, Electricity Business Unit Manager of APUA. “The ground-mounted 150 kWp sun2live solar power generation solution on Barbuda will further minimise the government’s reliance on expensive and polluting fossil fuels. Additio nally, PV Energy, the Ministry of Energy and the APUA will be working together to ensure that the necessary controls are installed with the 150 kWp PV system, thus ensuring that the solar system integrates into the power grid without compromising the stability and security of the network. As the solar penetration increases to the anticipated 1 MWp, batteries would be phased in to assist with maintaining a very stable power system in Barbuda”

About the joint vision of the GOAB, the APUA and PV Energy: In collaboration with the clean energy provider PV Energy the GOAB and the APUA have agreed to implement a number of photovoltaic installations with a total capacity of 10 MWp. Together they have concluded an Engineering Procurement and Constr uction contract in 2015, stipulating the provision of fully operational clean energy turnkey plants to the government and the people of Antigua and Barbuda. The solar energy plant on Barbuda is part of this 10 MWp project cluster. It represents a further step subsequent to the finalisation of the 3 MWp solar energy plant installed at the V.C. Bird International Airport of Antigua, the implementation of the 4 MWp photovoltaic facility in the Bethesda area of Antigua and the equipment of numerous roofs of more than 50 schools and other public buildings with a capacity of altogether 2 MWp. The GOAB, the APUA and PV Energy have also agreed to install a total of approximately 7 MWh battery storage in Antigua and Barbuda in order to support the regulation of the frequency of the grid and maintain a very stable power system. The three parties pursue the major aim of developing clean and profitable renewable energy solutions and thereby, ensuring a sustainable future of the twin-islands state.