BASSETERRE, ST. KITTS – Two more solar farms are to be established on St. Kitts. This was disclosed by Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the St. Kitts Electricity Corporation (SKELEC), Mr. Cartwright Farrell.
Speaking at the recent Conversations for Progress at the Brown Hill Basketball Court, Mr. Farrell said renewable energy – mainly solar, wind and the possibility of geothermal energy exploration are married with energy conservation and energy efficiency
Mr. Farrell pointed out that the Federal Government started the ball rolling with the installation of solar PV panels on the rooftop of Government Headquarters in Basseterre, to provide its own power needs.
“Government also installed a 750KW solar farm at the Robert L. Bradshaw Airport that provides about 3000 KWh per day. This solar farm was developed in a partnership involving the St. Christopher Air and Sea Ports Authority (SCASPA), the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis,” said Farrell.
He disclosed that in the near future St. Kitts and Nevis will commission another solar farm of 500KW in a partnership involving SKELEC, the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan), and the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis putting over 2000kWh per day into the grid.
“That will save over 40,000 gallons of diesel per year over the lifetime of the project and save SKELEC over EC$8 million in diesel savings,” said Mr. Farrell.
He further disclosed that the second solar farm of 1MW will be established through a second 500MW phase at St. Paul’s with over 4000kWh of power into the grid daily.
“In the development plans of most of the significant developments on St. Kitts the use of Renewable Energy is stressed. All of these developments have committed to include some level of renewable energy input into their energy needs. We welcome this at SKELEC and we intend to assist and facilitate all of these developers where possible,” said Mr. Farrell.
He said the Federal government showed its commitment by first moving to fluorescent street lighting on the Kim Collins Highway and part of Frigate Bay Road, solar street lighting between Newton Ground and St. Paul’s and then as technology improved the move has been to LED street lighting.
All new streetlights installed in St. Kitts from now on will be LED street lights, Mr. Farrell said.
“LED lighting that uses 20% of the energy consumed by traditional lighting is now also available to the householder. The current project to outfit every home in the Federation with LED lighting is testament to the fact that a serious effort is being made to make energy efficiency a household mantra,” said Farrell.
He said the Federal Government is not only taking the lead in energy efficiency, but it is also giving citizens the first leg up towards doing the same.
“In effect the Government is not only finding answers and saying well go forth and do this, but they are going even further by saying let us do this together,” Mr. Farrell stated.
He pointed out that in Renewable Energy, the stakeholders are allowed to install different types of Renewable Energy technologies for their own power use.
“We have some business places such as Horsfords and others who have installed their own solar panels on their rooftops to power their own properties,” said Mr. Farrell.
