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A hybrid solar and battery project in Antigua and Barbuda, funded by the $50 million UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund, features 720 kWp of solar panels and an 863 kWh battery, designed to withstand high winds and supply all energy to the island country during daylight hours.
A hybrid solar park developed and launched by Abu Dhabi Future Energy Co. (Masdar) is now operational in the Caribbean nation of Antigua and Barbuda.
The Green Barbuda project is a hybrid solar, battery and diesel backup project, featuring a hybrid photovoltaic plant with 720 kWp of solar panels connected to an 863 kWh battery.
It is capable of fully satisfying the islands current daytime energy demand. It will contribute to the nations goal of meeting 86% of its electricity needs from renewable sources by 2030, while allowing Barbuda to reduce annual diesel fuel consumption by 406,000 liters and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by more of 1 million kg.
Following Hurricane Irma in 2017, which destroyed 95% of Barbuda, the climate-resistant plant has been designed to survive strong winds.
“The Green Barbuda electricity project has been truly transformative for Barbuda. “It leverages our indigenous renewable energy resources and has facilitated the transfer of cutting-edge technologies as well as the development of local capacity to manage the project,” said Prime Minister Gaston Browne. “The project supports Antigua and Barbudas efforts to reduce its dependence on expensive and volatile imported petroleum fuels and to develop our own renewable energy resources. At the same time, it also allows us to adapt to climate change and mitigate its adverse effects.”
Fully funded by the Abu Dhabi Fund for Development (ADFD), the power plant has been developed under the $50 million UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund, a partnership between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of UAE, the ADFD and Masdar.
ADFD Director General HE Mohamed Saif Al Suwaidi stated that the project took into account the countrys heavy dependence on fossil fuel imports to meet its energy needs, despite having the potential to exploit its solar, wind and geothermal. “This initiative highlights the extraordinary capacity of clean energy to drive socioeconomic development,” he said.
The UAE-Caribbean Renewable Energy Fund aims to deploy renewable energy projects in 16 Caribbean countries to reduce energy costs, increase energy access and improve climate resilience. Projects have already been successfully launched in the Bahamas, Barbados and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Masdar recently announced the financial closure of a 1.8 GW phase of the worlds largest solar project, located in the UAE. The company claims to have more than 20 GW of capacity across projects in operation, under construction or in advanced development in its global portfolio and has set a target of reaching 100 GW by 2030. |
