ANGLEC CEO David Gumbs.
ANGUILLA--The ground-breaking ceremony by the Anguilla Electricity Company (ANGLEC) for a one-megawatt (1MW) Solar Farm Project took place on Monday, December 14. It is located west of the ANGLEC power station and will take up four to five acres of land.
ANGLEC CEO David Gumbs said the project had been under discussion for some time and the company was excited that it was now starting. He said 20 companies had been in the bidding process and Uriel Renewables was the company that would be constructing the Farm. He said there would be significant impact on the economy and the environment, and the Farm would supply about 10 per cent of the households in Anguilla. The estimated opening of the project is mid-2016.
Minister of Infrastructure Curtis Richardson commended the past and present boards of ANGLEC as well as the management team for taking “this bold step.” He said he hoped it was just the beginning and would lead to greater achievements. He said ANGLEC was demonstrating a way to bring down the cost of living. He thanked Uriel Renewables and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) for partnering with Anguilla for the project.
Audience attending the ground-breaking ceremony for the Solar Farm.
Petro Sanchez of Uriel Renewables said his company had been in the business of renewable energy since the mid-1990s, but technology had advanced much since then. He said the Farm would supply some 600 homes in Anguilla. He noted the challenges, including hurricanes, but said the Farm would withstand winds of 120 miles per hour.
Another challenge is corrosion, so careful consideration will be given to construction materials. Sanchez said there had been excellent cooperation with the Anguilla team and he was honoured that his company had been selected amidst much competition.
Andrew Dupigny of the CDB said the financial lender had provided grants and loans for Anguilla for many years and was glad to continue the cooperation. He said the Solar Farm would cost approximately US $3.3 million with some $1.6 million provided by the European Union (EU). He said the Farm would save 384,000 litres of fuel annually. Dupigny said CDB was willing to support Anguilla going forward.
ANGLEC Systems Control Engineer Sylvan Brooks said solar energy was the way to go, as it was “inexhaustible, reduces pollution and reduces cost.” He noted that the company had several challenges, including storage systems and batteries, and researching non-corrosive materials. He said electricity produced at the Solar Farm would be connected directly to the grid.
