ContourGlobal adds storage to hybrid plant in Bonaire island

UK-based power generator ContourGlobal plc (LON:GLO) has recently celebrated the opening of an extension to the wind-diesel hybrid power plant on the Dutch island of Bonaire in the Caribbean.

Previously consisting of an integrated mix of wind power and diesel totalling 24 MW, the Bonaire power plant has now been equipped with 6-MW/6-MWh of lithium-ion batteries, a digital power management system and newly expanded dual-fuel engines.

ContourGlobal owns and operates the hybrid plant, through its Bonaire unit, and generates electricity for local power and water utility Water-en Energiebedrijf Bonaire (WEB).

Batteries and the power management system were supplied by Finnish technology group Wartsila Corp (HEL:WRT1V) and its storage software business Greensmith Energy. Turkish diesel and gas-fired power plants specialist Iltekno AS was brought on board to deliver the engine component.

Bonaire, located off the coast of Venezuela, had a total population of 20,104 in 2019, according to Dutch official statistics. With no transmission links to any nearby territory, Bonaire has to generate its electricity and ContourGlobal's hybrid plant is the only power source on the island.

ContourGlobal CEO Joseph C Brandt said in a statement that the company and WEB will seek to expand the hybrid power plant further by adding solar capacity and more powerful wind turbines.

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