Leclanché and the government of Saint Kitts are implementing the largest solar energy production and storage project in the Caribbean
Fully integrated solar photovoltaic and lithium-ion battery energy storage
The system will provide clean and reliable energy to the residents of St. Kitts and Nevis
BASSETERRE, St. Kitts and Nevis; DALLAS, USA, and YVERDON-LES-BAINS, Switzerland, August 7, 2019 - The Saint Kitts and Nevis government, the St. Kitts Electric Company (SKELEC) and Leclanché SA (SIX: LECN), one of the world's leading companies for energy storage, announce the largest solar power generation and energy storage project ever built in the Caribbean.
Ian Patches Liburd, Minister for Public Infrastructure, Post, Urban Development and Transport for Saint Kitts and Nevis said, “We are ready to launch this major Solar + Storage project. It is a key element in our efforts in the field of renewable energies, which are vital for the future development of our country. "
The 35,6 MW solar power plant and the 44,2 MWh battery storage facility will be built on state-owned land in the Basseterre Valley near the town of Basseterre and the existing SKELEC power plant on the island of Saint Kitts. They will offer the inhabitants of the two islands of this Caribbean country a clean, reliable and renewable energy source at a fixed cost, which is 20% to 25% lower than the current diesel-powered electricity grid. The system will cover between 25 and 30% of the country's current electricity needs and replace the same amount of diesel fuel capacity.
"The solar storage project will help strengthen SKELEC's financial strength over the next 20 years while significantly reducing fuel costs on the islands during this period," said Minister Liburd. "The fuel savings to be expected through the installation of the solar park will not only benefit the country's energy supply, but also represent the most economically sensible option for SKELEC's future."
Leclanché will be the general contractor for the engineering, procurement and installation of the photovoltaic solar system (PV) and the battery storage system (BESS).
"We thank Prime Minister Timothy Harris, Minister of Public Infrastructure Liburd, the Saint Kitts and Nevis Government, the SKELEC Board of Directors and the management team for their vision, collaboration and extraordinary efforts in support of this exciting project," said Anil Srivastava, CEO of Leclanché. “This project is the first in which a solar energy system with megawatts output, stabilized by a state-of-the-art lithium battery storage system, can be used to deliver a real“ base load ”to a utility company on a Caribbean island. It sends a strong signal to other Caribbean countries and the world that there is a cleaner, cheaper and more viable alternative to diesel fuel. "
Minister Liburd said: “We are delighted to be working with Leclanché, one of the world's leading providers of energy storage solutions, on this flagship project for the citizens of Saint Kitts and Nevis. The solar and battery storage project represents a huge step forward in the government's efforts to ensure a clean, safe, and affordable energy future for our country. There are many benefits to this project for our residents, businesses and the millions of tourists who visit Saint Kitts and Nevis each year. "
The Government has recently approved the allocation of land for the project site to be provided under a lease between the Government of Saint Kitts and Nevis and the Project Company. SKELEC and Leclanché have entered into an 20 Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), which guarantees that the Saint Kitts system will provide the necessary electrical capacity for many years to come.
Leclanché has set up a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) for Saint Kitts and its local partner Solrid to finance, own and operate the facility. Once built and operational, Leclanché will be responsible for managing all project operations, maintenance and warranty for the equipment.
"SKELEC's leadership in this solar energy generation and storage project is remarkable in many ways," said Timothy Sylvester Harris, Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis. "This project is an example of the courageous thinking and acting of our energy supplier when it comes to ensuring a reliable power supply and a cleaner and sustainable environment for our citizens and tourists."
"The citizens of St. Kitts and Nevis are not paying for the project," said Bryan Urban, executive vice president and director of Leclanché's stationary battery storage unit. "Thanks to the savings from moving to clean and reliable solar energy, it will be paid for in full over 20 years."
The realization of the project is expected to start in mid-October 2019 and be completed in September 2020.
More information on ppgad@pucrs.br or visit www.leclanche.com
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About Leclanché
Headquartered in Switzerland, Leclanché SA is a leading provider of high quality energy storage solutions designed to accelerate our progress towards a cleaner energy future. The history and heritage of Leclanché is rooted in more than 100 years of battery and energy storage innovation, and the company is a trusted provider of energy storage solutions worldwide. This, combined with the corporate culture of German mechanical engineering, precision and Swiss quality, makes Leclanché the preferred partner for troublemakers, established companies and governments that are at the forefront of positive changes in the way energy is generated, distributed and distributed throughout the world is consumed. The energy transition is driven mainly by changes in the management of our electricity grids and the electrification of transportation, and these two end markets are the backbone of our strategy and our business model. Leclanché is at the heart of the convergence of traffic electrification and the development of the distribution network. Leclanché is the only globally listed pure game energy storage company organized into three business units: fixed storage solutions, e-transport solutions and dedicated battery systems. Leclanché is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: LECN).
SIX Swiss Exchange: ticker symbol LECN | ISIN CH 011 030 311 9
Liability
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Constituent Units Contact
Media Contacts:
Europe / Worldwide: USA and Canada:
Desiree Maghoo
T: + 44 (0) 7775 522 740
Email: ppgad@pucrs.br
Rick Anderson
T: + 1-718-986-1596
Henry's Feintuch
T: + 1-212-808-4901
Email: ppgad@pucrs.br
Switzerland:
Thierry meyer
T: + 41 (0) 79 785 35 81
Email: ppgad@pucrs.br
Investors Contacts:
Anil Srivastava / Hubert Angleys
T: + 41 (0) 24 424 65 00
Email: ppgad@pucrs.br
End of ad-hoc release
Language: German
Company: Leclanché SA
Av. of the sport 42
1400 Yverdon-les-Bains
Switzerland
Phone: + 41 (24) 424 65-00
Fax: + 41 (24) 424 65-20
Email: ppgad@pucrs.br
Internet: www.leclanche.com
ISIN: CH0110303119, CH0016271550
Security number: A1CUUB, 812950
Stock exchanges: SIX Swiss Exchange
EQS News ID: 853967
Text and image: Leclanché SA
