Hybrid power coming for Twin Islands and Salt Cay invests $8m for TCI’s first solar microgrids

To propel the TCI into an era of clean energy, FortisTCI will invest $8m to install the country's first solar plus battery microgrids to power 30% of the electricity supply on North and Middle Caicos and 91% of the electricity supply on Salt Cay in 2024.

A new age is dawning when it comes to renewable energy growth, and the Turks and Caicos Islands is making notable strides to transition to renewable energy sources.

To this end, the territory’s sole electricity provider FortisTCI recently inked a contract with Compass Solar at a TCI Energy Forum.

The announcement was made on Thursday, June 1, 2023, at the Company’s business cocktail event called 'Energy Hour', at The Farm Restaurant, Seven Stars Resort.

FortisTCI signed the contract with Compass Solar the following day.

FortisTCI President and CEO Ruth Forbes in a statement on Tuesday, June 6 said the company is taking significant steps to transform how it produces and distributes energy in the Turks and

Caicos Islands.

She said: FortisTCI is greening the islands with our latest investments. Microgrids on North Caicos and Salt Cay will significantly decrease the overall cost of energy production in these islands.

Forbes explained that with appropriate amendments to the electricity ordinance, customers can benefit from lower energy prices over time.

She said: “We will continue to work with TCIG to achieve this outcome.

“Reducing our dependence on imported diesel fuel, expanding renewable energy integration, and lowering the cost of electricity over time are all part of the sustainable energy future we are building for the Turks and Caicos Islands.”

Speaking at Fortis TCI’s recently concluded energy conference which was held under the theme: ‘Changing the Energy Landscape – People, Power, Partnerships’, Forbes said the installation of the microgrids is just one way that Fortis is changing the territory’s energy landscape

“We are going green one island at a time with the supporting regulations”, she said.

The Bahamas-based renewable energy company emerged as the winning bidder following a tender process that included local and regional companies and will install the solar components of the project. Hitachi will provide the battery storage service.

Construction on the Twin Islands project is expected to commence this year, and the system will come on stream in 2024.

The solar plus battery microgrid on Salt Cay will also be operational in 2024.

Both microgrids will encompass a battery energy storage connected to the primary grid with the ability to disconnect and operate independently, as necessary.

According to the utility company, an independent study was used to determine the feasibility of microgrids in outer islands.

“Based on factors such as cost, each island's electricity system, including generation resources, customer electricity use trends, fuel usage, and the amount of land available, North and Middle Caicos and Salt Cay were selected.

“The solar plus battery microgrids are among several strategic investments that FortisTCI is making to meet growing energy demand and accelerate the transition to renewable energy, reducing carbon emissions and lowering energy costs over time.

“These investments are aligned with Company's integrated resource plan (IRP), which supports an optimal energy mix that includes diesel, with at least 33% renewable energy integrated by 2040.

“FortisTCI has conducted various studies to help determine the best energy mix for the country. These include gas-to-power research, which explored how the company can integrate natural gas (LNG) into the energy mix. A study to determine the feasibility of wind as an energy source is currently underway on North Caicos,” FortisTCI stated.

Since 2015, the company has expanded its Utility Owned Renewable Energy (UORE) programme through customer partnerships.

The company has 2.6 MW of solar PV on the grid through 18 systems. These installations have produced over 4.8 GWh of green energy, avoiding 3.75k tons of CO2 emissions.

A microgrid is a small-scale version of the national grid, it includes renewable power generation, distribution and control. It is not a single home with solar panels and batteries. It is a system that includes power generation, storage, distribution to multiple properties and intelligent control for efficient energy use.

A microgrid can be used to power multiple buildings or even entire villages.

It can also be isolated from the national grid if required, allowing the microgrid to be fully selfsufficient for a time.

The microgrids represent the company's single largest green energy investment to date, according to a statement from the company.