bp and Shell break ground on 112MW solar plant in Trinidad and Tobago
Power Engineering International
Posted on: 19 April 2023
A sod turning ceremony has taken place at Brechin Castle in Trinidad and Tobago| signaling the island nation's first utility-scale solar project.
A sod turning ceremony has taken place at Brechin Castle in Trinidad and Tobago, signalling the island nation's first utility-scale solar project.
The 112MWac solar project consisting of two sites, Brechin Castle and Orange Grove, is owned by consortium partners bp Alternative Energy Trinidad and Tobago (bpAETT) and Shell Renewables Caribbean.
The project will produce approximately 300,000MWh per year, enough to power the equivalent of 42,500 homes.
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Development and construction of the project are being managed by solar developer Lightsourcebp. Grupotec Servicios Avanzados S.A. has been selected as the main contractor for the construction of the project at both sites and SDV West Indies Limited has been selected to provide high-voltage connections to the T&TEC network.
Anja-Isabel Dotzenrath, executive vice president, Gas & Low Carbon Energy, bp said: “Today’s sod turning represents a significant milestone, bringing us all one step closer to the goal of producing power from Trinidad and Tobago’s first utility-scale solar project.
"It also reinforces the importance of a collaborative approach to this country’s energy transition goals and together with the other consortium partners, we look forward to being part of delivering this country’s first solar project.”
The groundbreaking ceremony was attended by Dr the Honourable Keith Rowley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, as well as the Ministers of Energy and Energy Industries and Public Utilities and representatives from bp and Shell.
The ceremony follows the consortium taking Final Investment Decision (FID) in December 2022.
The Brechin Castle solar project will include a solar installation with an output power capacity of 92MW and will be operational this year.
The solar farm will cover 587 acres of land and will save 123,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions.
