The energy regulator of Grenada is seeking expressions of interest (EOI) for a solar or solar-plus-storage project at the Caribbean island nation’s main international airport.
The country’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has issued an early market engagement (EME) announcement soliciting EOIs and requests for information (RFI) for an independent power producer (IPP) for the project.
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PURC is seeking an IPP to build and operate either a 15.1MW standalone solar PV plant or a solar-plus-storage plant combining 15.1MW of solar PV and a 10.6MW/21.2MWh battery energy storage system (BESS), Options 1 and 2 respectively.
The deadline for submissions is 20 September 2024.
The project, called the Grenada Renewable Energy Project, will be located at Maurice Bishop International Airport (MBIA), the main international airport of Grenada.
Option 2, the solar-plus-storage project, would also include the provision of a power management system capable of solar, diesel generator, battery storage integration and control. Both Options will include the plant’s operation and maintenance (O&M) for a period of 25 years.
The plants will integrate into utility Grenada Electricity Services Limited’s (Grenlec) grid and will enable the airport to be capable of decoupling from the grid by acting as a microgrid during outage situations. Genlec will build a new substation at the airport to accommodate the project, and the winning IPP will sign a power purchase agreement (PPA) with the utility.
PURC emphasised that the announcement is ‘not a Request for Proposals (RFP) or a solicitation for formal proposals’, and that it would use the EOI process to formulate an RFP for the project.
Grenada is targeting 100% renewable energy in electricity and transport sectors by 2030. Diesel accounts for the majority of Genlec’s generation, providing 50MW from 15 units. There is also 3.6MW of customer-sited solar PV alongside 1.1MW of Genlec-owned solar PV.
The solar PV for this project will be distributed across three sites near the airport and the 10.6MW/21.2MWh BESS will be ‘appropriate to provide the required value streams’, PURC said.
The sites for the solar are:
- North of Hardy Bay at MBIA 12.66 Acres (4.6MW)
- West end of MBIA runway 6.75 Acres (3.4MW)
- Outside south fence at MBIA 15.76 Acres (7.1MW)
The BESS would be located at the new 33/11kV substation to be constructed by Genlec at the site north Hardy Bay at the airport.
Genlec, PURC and think-tank the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) are undertaking feasibility studies and assessments for the project, including geotechnical, hydrology, aviation risk, topographic surveys, battery optimisation, grid integration and environmental impact assessments (EIA). The results and deliverables will be shared with shortlisted bidders.
