Two major players in the renewable energy sector, Honeywell and Leclanché, are set to elevate the sustainability quotient of the Caribbean islands. In a groundbreaking move, grid-scale battery storage will be integrated with solar PV systems in the US Virgin Islands and St Kitts & Nevis. These collaborations, totaling 167.6MWh in energy storage capacity across seven solar-plus-storage projects, aim to propel both territories to achieve 30% or more renewable energy consumption, marking a significant stride in their energy transition journey.
Honeywell's contribution involves supplying its Battery Energy Storage System (BESS) technology to six solar PV projects in the US Virgin Islands. This strategic deployment, covering St Thomas, St Croix, and St John, is projected to take the territory to 30% renewable energy consumption. The 124MWh of Honeywell's battery storage units will harmonize with 140MWdc of solar PV, significantly reducing the islands' reliance on expensive propane and fuel oil for electricity generation.
Meanwhile, Leclanché is set to fulfill a long-anticipated project on St Kitts & Nevis, pairing a 43.6MWh BESS solution with 35.7MWp of solar PV. After overcoming delays and renegotiations, the project is primed to commence construction in Q2 2024. The revamped power purchase agreement not only ensures cost savings of $200 million for St Kitts but also underscores the project's versatility in providing dispatchable solar PV, ancillary grid services, and emergency backup.
As the Caribbean islands embrace sustainable solutions, these initiatives exemplify how advanced technologies are steering them toward cleaner, greener, and cost-effective energy ecosystems.
Source: energy-storage.news