Three solar power box systems are set to be installed across the British Virgin Islands, following a signed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Recovery and Development Agency (RDA) and the United Kingdom, which was facilitated by the Governor’s Office.
The MOU is valued a total of $260,000 and was signed on November 1, which coincided with the commencement of the UN Climate Change Conference (COP26) which started in Glasgow on that date.
Speaking on the initiative Governor Rankin said it holds great importance to the territory, considering the severe impacts suffered by our region by natural disasters due to climate change.
He said, ““As world leaders meet to discuss the global climate change challenge at COP26 in Glasgow, I’m pleased to announce today funding for a new innovative renewable energy project in the territory. For BVI, climate change impacts could range from longer, harsher hurricane seasons, to sea level rise, to, in the long term, risks to our food and water security.”
“This announcement is another important step in ensuring future resilience of the island and showing that renewable energy installations can be commercially viable options,” he added.
The project, which is being led by RDA, will see the construction, installation and maintenance of new renewable energy systems at three locations in the BVI.
Director of Programme Strategy at the RDA Neil Smith said that the systems will not only harness the sun’s energy and use it to provide energy for the structures but will also add resilience to the local community.
Smith said, “These systems will harness recent developments in the renewable market providing systems that are simple to install, cost effective and capable of running in a multitude of differing configurations that meet the requirements in the Virgin Islands.”
Smith added, “Using export limitation, which allows the user to set the amount of unused electricity that is returned to the grid, storage and islanding technology, the systems will demonstrate the versatility of current renewable systems and how they are now able to provide a significant contribution to the BVI energy mix.”
This project hopes to demonstrate to investors and users in the industry the commercial viability of solar energy. It will also enable further growth in the renewable energy market, supporting employment and skills development opportunities for the local community.