ST LUCIA Electricity Services Limited’s (LUCELEC) Request for Proposals (RFP) for the construction of a 3 megawatt (MW) solar energy farm is drawing significant interest from around the world.
A recent meeting and site visit for potential bidders attracted 70 representatives from 35 companies from the U.S, Canada, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean, many of whom are partnering with local solar, engineering and construction firms.
Participants at the meeting were given an overview of the project and its importance to Saint Lucia, information on Saint Lucia’s energy transition strategy and the RFP process. They were also given the opportunity to ask questions and get clarification on the project, and to examine the proposed site at La Tourney, Vieux Fort, first hand to assist them in preparing their bids.
LUCELEC’s Business Development Manager Victor Emmanuel is heading up the project for the company. Speaking at the start of the meeting, Emmanuel said the company was “pleased with the interest expressed to date in the project, particularly with the number of bids from all over the world.”
He explained that although there are currently about 50 small solar photovoltaic (PV) systems connected to the LUCELEC grid, providing about 500 kilowatts of electricity from renewable sources, the 3MW solar farm is historic in that it will be the first utility scale renewable energy project in Saint Lucia.
LUCELEC will own and operate the solar farm. Potential bidders have until April 22, to submit their bid for the construction of the solar farm. The short list of candidates will be announced by May 6 and the project awarded on May 20.
LUCELEC intends to construct one megawatt of the project this year and add the remaining two megawatts subsequently.