VINLEC Solar PV system on Union Island by month end

A photovoltaic system will be added to the generation mix on Union Island in keeping with a mandate by the Government of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) and St Vincent Electricity Services Limited (VINLEC) to increase the penetration of renewable energy in the production of electricity.

The Solar PV and battery energy storage project is being funded through a grant to the government from the United Arab Emirates. The contract was signed in 2018 and preparatory works were carried out during that year. 

The Engineering, Procurement and Construction contractor is Akuo Energy Solutions of the UAE. They are being supported by several local civil, electrical and mechanical subcontractors. Installation of the solar panels commenced in late January 2019 and was completed in February. The panels are mounted on the ground using driven piles and the solar modules have been tilted at 10 degrees.

Another component of the project is the installation of new 11kV switchgear. The switchgear panels, which have already been installed, will offer protection to the solar PV and battery systems, the generator transformers and the 11kV feeders.

The next stage of the project will see the termination of cables. Once this is completed, the project will move into its final stage, which is the testing/commissioning stage. To ensure successful transition, members of staff who will be involved in the operations and maintenance of the Solar PV farm will undergo a period of training on site. The 100-hour training session will be done by Akuo Energy Solutions.

Upon completion, the solar PV plant will generate electricity during the day to supply to the grid. It is projected that on sunny days, the solar plant will generate excess electricity than is required to supply the average day-time load on the island. The excess electricity will be stored in batteries. Once there is limited PV output, the batteries will deliver power to the load until they have been discharged. At this point the control system will send a signal to start the diesel generators which will supply the needed load. The diesel generators will continue to power the load until there is sufficient sunlight for the PV system to generate power and recharge the batteries.

There are also several environmental benefits that will be derived from this solar PV project. During times when the diesel generators are off line, there will be limited noise pollution and improved air quality in the area since there will be no exhaust from the diesel generators. In addition, there is the reduced probability of oil and spills and other related incidents.

The expected annual energy output is 1,025 Megawatt-hours (MWh) or 1.025 Gigawatt-hours (GWh), which is approximately 32 per cent of the electricity generated in Union Island in 2018. This will result in approximately one-third of savings on diesel usage and cost, and also savings in other diesel generator operation and maintenance costs.

The Union Island Solar PV Plant is located to the North of the Union Island Power Station. 

The total cost of the project is US$3 million. The system is expected to be functional by the end of March 2019. The Union Island Power Plant, which was commissioned in 1974, provides power to 1,242 customers.