The largest solar power plant in the Caribbean is to be built in Jamaica by Solamon Energy Corporation and will generate 60 megawatts.
The following press release was issued by the company out of Toronto, Canada on January 20th, 2012.
“After numerous visits and meetings with administrators and regulators this past year, Solamon Energy Corp. today proudly announced its program to build the largest solar power plant in the Caribbean in Jamaica. It is expected the program, estimated to cost CDN$450 million, will enhance and improve the nation’s energy infrastructure, as well as serve as a beacon to attract additional investment in the ICT and greentech sectors, will represent one of the region’s first strategic private-public partnerships.
“In order to implement a solution of this magnitude sites, several Parishes are being considered as future homes of one of three 50-acre plots that when conjoined will provide the Jamaican people with 60MW of clean electricity,” says Solamon SVP Ainsley Brown.
“This program represents a comprehensive approach to renewable energy development, energy diversification, job creation and training for the 21st century,” Brown continues. “Its success will necessitate a level-headed and like-minded approach at the table, as we are offering to tackle and deal with all elements of risk cooperatively and openly examine the implications of carbon credits, fuel or foreign exchange savings, in order to share the greater benefits of solar with our partners, and the communities they serve over the lifetime of this deal.”
“Brown adds the mega-project will create many new jobs for Jamaicans, and with the completion of a requisite light manufacturing plant, will establish the island as a bona-fide greentech hub. In addition to generating solar electricity and thereby reducing for future generations of Jamaicans an imposing reliance on fossil fuels, he explains the new revenue from the sale of carbon credits will be directed toward establishing employee training and certification programs required to build this and many other similar facilities across the Caribbean.
“I believe the utility should not be the only one to benefit from the nation going green,” he continues. “JPS, as it currently stands, benefits from green initiatives, from not having to produce that energy, as well as the fuel saving and foreign exchange saving, without passing anything onto the green investor or the customer at large. We here at Solamon Energy believe that should end and fairness be brought to the nation.”
“Solamon provides a fully managed solution for its Apollo Acre™, a turnkey process from beginning to end including site inspections, project design and development, as well as addressing requisite environmental and local permitting, 3rd party engineering, procurement and construction, as well as system testing and eventual commissioning, security and maintenance.
“The company is excited to deliver turnkey power plants using renewable solar energy as a resource to Caribbean and Central American countries, and develop mutually beneficial and long-term relationships around the world. “It’s no secret, our executives are certainly looking for local partners to manage each new Apollo Acre™ array,” Solamon CEO Graeme Boyce adds. “However, our partners must also be willing to establish and operate a suitable post-implementation maintenance program, especially in collaboration with government agencies who’ve offered to provide standards and training certification criteria especially in the growing Carbon Credit market.”
“Solamon typically offers a ground-mounted solar array of integrated photovoltaic cells over 5 acre packages of land, which is called the Apollo Acre™. The company now also designs and installs custom solutions with local partners to provide roof-mounted and parking lot systems that could be easily augmented by micro wind turbine technology and other innovative features.
“About Solamon: Solamon Energy Corp. sells integrated arrays of ground-mounted and rooftop photovoltaic cells. These solar power plants are connected by cable to varied transmission equipment, including converters, inverters and batteries, utilizing 5 acres of land per unit; each unit is called an Apollo Acre™. Additionally, it is expected the company’s business activities will spin-off many jobs locally, given engineering requirements, construction, unit commissioning and subsequent maintenance.”
