Alternative energy sources for BVI explored in Spain
GIS - Wednesday, March 7th, 2012 at 2:51 PM
Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark Vanterpool visited the Irradia Solar Energy Farm in Seville, Spain while attending the GSMA World Mobile Summit. (Photo Credit/Ministry of Communications and Works
In keeping with Government’s Legislative Agenda to consider alternative forms of energy usage for the Territory, Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark Vanterpool visited the Irradia Solar Energy Farm in Seville, Spain while attending the GSMA World Mobile Congress.
The solar farm was toured by the Minister and Acting Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Arlene Smith-Thompson.
The farm is an intricate operation that sits on 52 acres and produces a nominal power of 16 mega watts that is fed unto the national grid. The operation consists of hundreds of solar modules, inverter rooms for the power transformation and transformers. The modules, which can either, be moving or fixed structures, can last for up to 30 years.
According to Minister Vanterpool, when compared to the current generating capability of our local electricity company which has a capacity of 44 mega watts and peak demand of 32 mega watts, the introduction of a solar source could partly reduce our dependence on fuel driven energy. The challenge he noted for such an operation, however, would be the availability of flat land even though the solar panels can also be placed on roof tops of large commercial-sized buildings.
Part of Irradia Energy’s company profile is its experience in creating local investment opportunities in areas where the company operates. This form of investment, it was noted, can realize returns within a short period of time.
It is also a good form of job creation as solar modules and inverter equipment must be maintained regularly. The utilization of such technologies must also have the full support of government to provide certain incentives for investment, including policies and legislation that favour the use of alternative energy sources.
This visit to the Seville solar farm was quite timely as it comes on the heels of a conference that members of the BVI Electricity Corporation’s Board attended in the Bahamas last month which provided exposure to useful information from regional and international agencies that are engaged in alternative energy production and use.
Minister Vanterpool concluded that exploring alternative sources of energy to power the Territory’s electricity operations is a high priority in his ministry’s work plan. He emphasized that we must keep pace with other countries worldwide that are embracing alternative energy sources such as solar and wind. In the Minister’s words, it is the environmentally responsible thing to do and we must get on board.
Government is committed to the introduction of policy that will encourage the use of renewable energy.
This article was posted in its entirety as received by bvinews.com. This media house does not correct any spelling or grammatical error within press releases and commentaries. The views expressed therein are not necessarily those of bvinews.com, its sponsors or advertisers.
2 Comments
Disclaimer: BVI News and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the comments below or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any public forum. All comments posted on BVINews.com reflect the views and opinions of the commentators and not that of the management and staff. Click here for our full comment/user policy/ agreement.
trash > steam > electric incinerator is already there and we have plenty of cruise ship trash ! panels on individual homes yes I just can’t see solar farms on Tortola , lack of land and the water runoff big problem !
Germany has it done right. place a few panels on individual homes with a grid-tie controller. the panels feed that home and any extra is fed back into the grid, decreasing the homeowners bill and alleviating the use of the area generators. no need for flat land, a few panels on each home and more on government buildings and you’ll produce much MORE than a large solar “farm” and it will be completely invisible, silent and next to zero maintenance (no batteries to replace, if mounting done properly no worries in a storm). check it out, if cloudy rainy germany can do it our sunny clime is a no-brainer.
Post a Comment