Barbuda to benefit from UAE solar plant

The Barbuda people will be handed a new US$3.1 million solar plant as its creation will coincide with the rebuilding of the disaster-ravaged island.
The governments of Antigua and Barbuda and United Arab Emirates (UAE) signed an agreement yesterday that Energy Minister Asot Michael
said will transition the sister-isle to a “green energy island”.
Michael who is also Minister of Tourism, Economic Development and Investment said the project includes the installation of a modern 800kilowatt hybrid solar battery system.
Minister Michael revealed this development was in the works since last year, in an interview with OBSERVER media yesterday. He said Prime Minister Gaston Browne and Health Minister Molwyn Joseph, were present in the UAE for the negotiations which have now come to fruition at an opportune time since the rebuilding of Barbuda is the main focus of the government.
When the plant comes online, workmen from the Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) will carry out the daily operations in Barbuda. This assurance came from the minister who said APUA’s General Manager Esworth Martin is already involved along with technical staff from the UAE.
The technicalities of the project were explained in a press statement from the minister, which outlined that energy from the plant will be fed into the grid and will interface with other renewable and conventional power facilities to provide electricity in Barbuda.
He also stated that all construction on the island would be “climate resilient,”. According to him, all schools, the hospital, the police station and other public buildings will access the grid.
The minister added that Barbudans would benefit as the project supports Barbuda’s branding as a niche destination for up-market sustainable tourism development. The plant is expected to be the first use of battery storage technology on that scale within the OECS.