Barbados is set to host the largest and most advanced renewable energy power plant in the English-speaking Caribbean, with work on the $350 million hybrid facility scheduled to start by March next year, senior officials confirmed on Friday, reports Barbados Today.
The project, to be built at Harrow Plantation in St Philip, is expected to create around 150 jobs during construction and 20 permanent positions once operational in about two years.
The facility is being developed by Renewstable (Barbados) Inc. (RSB), which will operate as an independent clean energy producer, selling its electricity to the Barbados Light and Power Company (BLPC) under a 25-year power purchase agreement.
RSB has applied to the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) for approval of the rate it can charge BLPC for the electricity supplied. The FTC has invited the public to submit written feedback by September 1 as part of its review process.
Aidan Rogers, strategic adviser to the project, said the plant will supply electricity to the grid at all times.
“This project will use solar energy along with hydrogen and battery storage so the power supply is steady day and night,” he explained. “The hydrogen is made by splitting water into hydrogen and oxygen. The hydrogen is stored and later used in fuel cells to make electricity, while the oxygen is released into the air. Batteries will provide extra backup to keep the supply stable.”
He noted that the solar section of the project will be five times bigger than BLPC’s 10MW plant at Trent’s, St Lucy, with a capacity of 50MW, making it the country’s largest solar installation.
Rogers added that the project needs a special rate because it is not part of the usual feed-in tariff system.
“We need an agreed price for selling power to the national utility. Current laws only allow us to supply electricity to BLPC, not directly to other customers,” he said.
Meshia Clarke, development specialist and project communications lead for HDF Caribbean, said the plant will also support agriculture.
“We’ll have 20 permanent jobs in plant operations and maintenance, plus in managing a sheep farm with 800 blackbelly sheep,” she said. “During construction, there will also be opportunities in transport, site preparation, electrical work, and other services. Wherever possible, we’ll use local companies and workers.”
The project already has planning approval, an energy licence, and has passed the required environmental impact assessment.
