Lucelec to launch construction on 3-MW Caribbean solar park in Q3

St Lucia Electricity Services Ltd (Lucelec), the sole power supplier on the Caribbean Island of Saint Lucia, will start building a 3-MW solar power plant by the end of September.

The company has signed an engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) deal with solar energy firm Grupotec, Lucelec said in a press release on Tuesday. The partners will aim to finish construction works by the spring of 2018.

To be situated near the Hewanorra International Airport, the photovoltaic (PV) park will consist of 14,900 panels. Their output is expected to be enough to meet the demand of about 3,500 local households and save more than 3,800 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions annually.

Once operational, the solar park will become the first utility-scale renewable energy plant on Saint Lucia. The scheme supports the government’s plans to lower the island’s reliance on diesel-powered generators, which are currently responsible for over 99% total power production.

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