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The award “best utility scale solar” was presented yesterday at the Caribbean renewable energy forum 2017

With our 10 MWp clean energy project cluster, planned, designed and realised for the Caribbean twin-island state Antigua and Barbuda, together with PV Energy we have been selected by the CREF Project Award Advisory Committee to win the award “Best Utility Scale Solar”. The award was presented yesterday at the ninth edition of the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) taking place in Miami, Florida, USA.  As the largest annual gathering of the Caribbean energy market the CREF yearly attracts more than 500 visitors, among them a variety of important representatives of the Caribbean governments.

Brian Challenger (Ambassador, Ministry of Energy Antigua), Shpresa Azemi (meeco), André Matthias (Manager, Electricity Department, Antigua Public Utilities Authority) and Eric Borremans (meeco) received the CREF Award. (left) The winners of the awards in the different categories. (right)

A professional CREF jury evaluated the applications for the award in terms of different parameters. The candidates had to prove their innovative approach, their ability to provide good value for investors and customers and their capability to manage challenges. PV Energy, our joint venture company, applied with the planning and implementation of a 10 MWp solar project cluster, which has been realised in collaboration with the Government of Antigua and Barbuda during the last two years.

Mr. André Matthias (Manager, Electricity Department, Antigua Public Utilities Authority), Ms. Shpresa Azemi (meeco) and Mr. Eric Borremans (meeco) with the CREF award.

The realisation of the project cluster contributed to the development of a sustainable and eco-friendly energy generation in Antigua and Barbuda and thus, to the reduction of the island’s dependence on expensive fossil fuels. The clean energy project cluster supports Antigua and Barbuda in reaching the target of generating 20 per cent of the required national electricity from renewable energy sources. Alongside the implementation of large-scale installations, the project comprised the equipment of government-owned buildings with sustainable solar systems. Thereby, more than 50 schools and other public buildings benefit from a reliable clean energy supply. The utility-scale solar plants stabilise the national grid and thereby guarantee a reliable energy supply for consumers. This innovative approach confirmed the country’s pioneering role in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in the whole of the Caribbean.

Eric, Borremans, our Head of Project Development, spoke in the CREF 2017 panel about future clean energy investment possibilities in the Caribbean.

“We are delighted about the honour to receive the award, which represents an invaluable appreciation of our clean energy approach and our endeavours to develop environment-friendly power solutions across the islands of Antigua and Barbuda”, Eric Borremans, our Head of Project Development, states. As one of six experts Eric Borremans spoke in the CREF 2017 forum “Renewables & Infrastructure: Clean Energy Investment Opportunity” about future clean energy investment possibilities in the Caribbean.

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