Many CARILEC and privately owned Caribbean Island utility companies are striving to increase generation capacity, improve grid reliability, reduce the levelized cost of energy, and reduce stress on transmission/distribution networks all while being responsible stewards of the environment. Solar energy and energy storage can be deployed effectively to augment traditional fossil-fuel generation and achieve these goals. The effective pricing can be competitive with the avoided cost of generation, and the power production schedule with or without storage can help mitigate system stress points.
The key factor for a utility company to deploy solar energy in its resource mix is RELIABILITY and SURVIVABILITY. Second to those is DISPATCHABILITY.
As a utility company operations team, you may want to consider smaller, distributed PV systems with dedicated Energy Storage Systems (ESS) or Battery Plants using the same Point of Interconnection. This approach will reduce the risk and network stress caused by centralized and giant-sized PV and ESS installations.
For instance, instead of one 20 MW PV system with a 40 MWh ESS, consider deploying four or five or ten smaller systems of PV and ESS around your network. This will reduce the power capacity stress on your network while limiting the impact of shade on cloudy and windy days. (If your island or service area is smaller than that, just reduce those numbers to your scale.)
Also key to survivability is engineering and building the PV system and ESS to survive increasingly severe hurricanes and the never-ending salt corrosion. We co-authored the regional best-practice manuals, “Solar Under Storm” and we practice what is on those pages. Yes, building for hurricane resiliency costs a little more …
“Pity the manager that couldn’t afford to do it right the first time, but could afford to do it right the second time”.
“The bitterness of poor quality remains long after the sweetness of low price is forgotten.” – Ben Franklin gets credit for that one.
Lastly – adding solar energy to your integrated resource plan will help your national economy and balance of currency by cutting down on your money that is going to foreign oil companies.
Solar – Good For The Economy, Good For Business
Our Caribbean team is complemented by local electrical trade subcontractors. Each of our trade partners is hand picked for their attention to detail and professionalism, and then we train them to deliver the high level of workmanship required for long service life.
Your solar-energy system and storage system will provide outstanding Public Relations benefits and outreach opportunities to the community. They demonstrate that your company is committed to maintaining the beauty of the Caribbean environment while caring for your customers and delivering reliable energy around the clock.
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Call our Caribbean team of solar experts now to discuss your needs.
