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PV Energy to equip large-scale installations in the Caribbean with powerful energy storage unit

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August 4, 2016

12:27 pm

Battery Backup Bidders meeting to ensure grid stability for Antigua and Barbuda

The government of the Caribbean twin-island state Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) pursues its target to shift away from fossil fuels towards a clean energy future. Through the implementation of large-scale sun2live solar power facilities as well as smaller sun2roof solar installations, the GOAB spurs the eco-friendly energy supply of the islands as well as the stability of the national network, which is especially essential for the consumers. In order to improve grid stability, the application of a highly powerful and efficient storage and frequency modulation solution is essential. This storage solution ensures stabilized frequencies and regular power supply that is essential for households, businesses and every digital device.

The GOAB, the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) and meeco’s joint venture PV Energy Limited have organised a Battery Backup Bidders Meeting on 20^th and 21^st July in order to discuss the best-suitable technology in conjunction with the large-scale sun2live photovoltaic installations on the twin-island state. During two days, four bidders from Germany, France and the USA presented their initial offers, the proposed technologies, within workshops and one to one discussions. On the basis of several key elements such as the technical framework, additional functions and features and the limits of supply, the different companies gave an overview of their respective product advantages and introduced their propositions for the tender requirements.

The hosts in turn presented the large-scale projects with its special needs. Visits of the airport with the completed 3 MWp ground-mounted solar power facility and the Bethesda area provided the bidders with all the necessary information concerning the local conditions and requirements for a smooth future operation.

The PV Energy team presented its projects to bidders from 3 countries.

This kind of meetings emphasises the complex process that has to be pursued to foster the development towards environmental sustainability. Alongside the clean power generation that feeds the grid, a stable energy supply in the whole of the region has to be established in order to ensure a reliable and high-performing electricity network consumers can benefit from.

Background: Since December 2015, the huge ground-mounted 3 MWp sun2live solar PV power plant at the V.C. Bird International Airport Antigua is operational and already generated 2,5 million kWh of reliable solar energy feeding the national grid. Currently, the construction of the second large-scale installation has started in the Bethesda area, where a 4 MWp sun2live solar PV plant will provide the network with additional clean energy.

The bidders visited the sun2live solar power plant at the V.C. Bird International Airport Antigua.