Photovoltaic Demonstration Project
OverviewSlowly, the global cry for the world to become more ‘green’ in terms of energy consumption is being heard. Scientists, businesses and schools are pooling together to make this vision a reality by implementing what was once thought to be impossible – Photovoltaic Energy. Known by most as Solar Power, it is the ability of producing a voltage usually through photo-emission, when exposed to radiant energy, especially light.
Photovoltaic (PV) Demonstration was a pilot project concerned with the production of electric current caused by electromagnetic radiation. The ‘Green Initiative’ of solar power, produces an electric current or voltage caused by electromagnetic radiation, (especially visible light from the sun), fueling the rapid deployment of renewable energy to help regain our energy independence and fight climate change.
Saint Lucia took the bold step of endeavoring to become the world’s first sustainable energy country. The plan aimed to effect a 15% reduction in projected peak demand and installed capacity by 2010, significantly reducing the high cost of water heating for both the residential and commercial sectors. The tax concessions have been introduced to combat the high initial costs of solar water heaters. Solar photovoltaic systems are also being promoted to provide back power during emergency situations and as demonstration units.
The PV pilot project was implemented with several purposes in mind:
- To further demonstrate the applicability of photovoltaic electricity in Saint Lucia
- To establish a pilot project to demonstrate net-metering and the contribution of small-scale renewable power producers to the main grid
- To demonstrate the possibility to increase contribution to renewable energy to Saint Lucia’s energy mix.
The initiative was brought forward in an effort to contribute towards Saint Lucia’s efforts to reduce reliance on the imported fuels through the popularization and deployment of renewable energy technologies. The general public was the target market, although in order to optimize the demonstration effect, the PV pilot project was composed of three sub- projects at different exhibition sites on the island: Castries, Pigeon Island and Vieux Fort. A short term public education and awareness strategy was executed during the implementation of this consultancy, (through conferences, town hall meetings, etc) as a means of ensuring project visibility and publicity.
The overall objective of this project was to contribute to sustaining Saint Lucia’s economic growth, and assist in economic diversification, thereby improving Saint Lucia’s economic competitiveness. This would enhance efficiency and productivity within the agricultural and other sectors with the thought to also provide Technical Assistance to the Government of Saint Lucia to implement the Energy component of the SFA 2006 Programme.
Grenada Solar Power was the contractor on the project. The successful pilot project was funded under the provisions of the Special Framework of Assistance (SFA2003), ‘Economic and Agricultural Diversification, and Poverty Reduction through Integrated Resource Management’ (INRMP) (EMF). The EMF, was managed by the BIT and this project was implemented on behalf of the Sustainable Development and Environmental Section (SDES) of the Ministry of the Environment.
As a result of the PV pilot project, a number of outcomes were achieved:
- A long term Sustainable Energy Strategy was developed, which includes an Electricity Sector Liberalization as it relates to renewable and alternative sources of energy, as well as a Transport Sector Strategy (inclusive of a Green Policy within the Transport sector) based on the National Energy Policy (NEP) approved by the GOSL
- The revision and updating of the Electricity Supply Act (ESA) and other relevant concerns in accordance with the National Energy Policy (NEP) Sustainable Energy Plan (SEP) incorporating but not limited to the following: the use of renewable forms of energy, the entry of Independent Power Producers, the possibilities for auto and co-generation, as well as identifying strategies and measures for achieving the liberalization of the Electricity Sector along with associated costs. All recommendations which have legal implications must be presented in an acceptable and user friendly format to allow easy incorporation into existing legislation/regulations for vetting by the Attorney General’s Chambers
- A blueprint for the establishment of a regulatory authority and for inter-agency collaboration for energy sector improvements developed
- A Public Energy Education and Awareness Strategy and Plan developed for execution in the long term. This plan identifies measures for addressing energyrelated education in both the formal (school, training) and non-formal environments. In addition, action was taken to implement priority measures. This includes all aspects of the energy sector, use of renewable energies, energy efficiency in all sectors of the society and also issues related to transport and related costs. The link between energy consumption, cost of electricity, livelihood, national environmental concerns and global climate change issues should also be addressed.
