Vieux Fort Solar Farm

The Vieux Fort Solar Farm is a photovoltaic power station in La Tourney, Vieux Fort District, Saint Lucia.

Vieux Fort Solar Farm
CountrySaint Lucia
LocationLa Tourney, Vieux Fort
Coordinates13°44′15″N 60°57′40″W
StatusOperational
Construction beganNovember 2017
Commission dateApril 2018
Construction costUS$20 million
Owner(s)St. Lucia Electricity Services
Operator(s)St. Lucia Electricity Services
Power generation
Nameplate capacity3 MW

History

In February 2016, St. Lucia Electricity Services (LUCELEC) released a request for proposal to companies to submit bids to construct the power station.[1] The tender was won by GRUPOTEC. On 20 June 2017, LUCELEC and GRUPOTEC signed the contract to begin the engineering, procurement and construction of the power station.[2]

The groundbreaking ceremony for the construction of the power station happened on 29 September 2017 and the construction began in November 2017.[3] It was then commissioned in April 2018, making it the first utility-level renewable energy project completed in the country.[4] The power station was then officially opened on 9 August 2018 in a ceremony attended by Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, former Costa Rica President José María Figueres and former United States President Bill Clinton.[5][6]

Technical specification

The power station has an installed generating capacity of 3 MW. Upon commissioning, the power station covered around 5% of electricity demand in the country.[5] The power station consists of almost 15,000 photovoltaic panels.[7]

Finance

The power station was constructed at a cost of US$20 million with funds from St. Lucia Electricity Services.[5]

References
  1. "Saint Lucia Issues Request for Proposals for 3 MW Airport Solar Park". RMI. 22 February 2016. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  2. "LUCELEC Signs Contract to Construct First Solar Farm in Saint Lucia". RMI. 20 June 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  3. "Rocky Mountain Institute-Carbon War Room and Clinton Climate Initiative Facilitate Groundbreaking for Solar Farm in Saint Lucia". RMI. 29 September 2017. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  4. Cjoseph (7 August 2018). "LUCELEC To Officially Open Its Solar Farm". LUCELEC. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  5. "Island's First Solar Farm Launches Today". The Voice. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  6. Niland, Dana (14 August 2018). "Saint Lucia Has a New Solar Farm". Caribbean Journal. Retrieved 17 May 2023.
  7. "Saint Lucia Solar Park Opens". RMI. Retrieved 17 May 2023.


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