SmartPower & SmartHomes

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

GridTie Solar in the Bahamas for 2017

The waiting is just about over! Bahamas Power & Light’s (BPL) residential consumers should be able to install grid-tied renewable energy systems by the end of January 2017, according to a recent statement by the Utilities Regulation & Competition Authority’s (URCA) top executive.

According to recently published information, the Bahamas National Energy Policy 2013-2033 aims to have 30 per cent of the Bahamas’ energy needs generated from renewable sources by 2030.

There's more good news! Prices for GridTie and Battery Backup systems have fallen dramatically. So if you're a fan of Schneider, Outback, SMA, Enphase, Magnum Energy and Solectrica inverters, Solarworld, Suniva, Canadian Solar, and other major brands of Solar Modules, you'll garner huge discounts on your new renewable energy system. The savings are well worth the wait.

Lets stay tuned . . .

Over the years I've seen great strides in the renewable energy sector, yet more can be done. Island Nations are particularly fertile ground for advancement of renewable energy technologies. One obvious reason is to maintain the pristine environmental ecosystem that attracts millions of visitors to such awesome natural wonders.

Having enjoyed the beautiful beaches and crystal clear waters of the Bahamas for over ten years, I have always had on my wish list to spend more time there in my retirement years. After 25+ years in the electronics, eco-construction and alternative energy industry, retirement is now, more than ever, an inevitable destination. So with retirement knocking on the door, I've turned my sights back to that endearing island known for its "Sand, Sea and Sun".

Non-Profit Solar Training
Recently I have volunteered as a technical Trainer with a NonProfit organization serving the Metro-Atlanta area of Georgia. The group known as Ambient , provides renewable energy training and subsidized renewable energy installations as part of their mission and outreach to the local and international community.

My experience so far is encouraging. To see our youth learn new skills, and apply those skills in the renewable energy industry is nothing short of humbling. One of our first successful groups of trainees, completed their initial "on-the-job" training, and installed a Rooftop 8,000 Watt GridTie solar system in just under a 1-1/2 Days. Similar sized Off-Grid and Hybrid systems progressed just as efficiently.

So it's not a question of, "if" it can it be done. It's more a challenge of, "who" will help make it happen.I'm sure there are hundreds, if not thousands of young men and women that would be interested in learning a new skill in the renewable energy sector. But, having the knowledge and ambition is not the only required ingredient. Opportunity, must be created.

A Question and a Simple Challenge
Is there opportunity in your local community for youth to launch a career in the renewable energy sector? If, not, what can you do to become an agent of change in your community? In partnership with www.Ambientinc.org, we provide "no cost" renewable energy training to communities that host events to empower their youth in this viable industry. Additionally, in partnership with sponsors, volunteers and donors, we contribute time, equipment and installation services to provide subsidized solar systems to elderly citizens, Veterans and families on fixed incomes. Do you know someone that would like to learn a new skill in the renewable energy sector? Would you would like to host a training event or volunteer your time, or co-sponsor an essential Off-Grid solar system for a family in need? Visit www.AMBIENTINC.org , become and "Agent of Change" and learn more about our international solar training initiatives. We would be happy to assist.

"MADE IN THE BAHAMAS" OPPORTUNITY
Maybe, volunteering isn't your thing, So for entrepreneurs, and others that might take a keen interest in advancing renewable energy technologies and manufacturing opportunities in the Bahamas, consider reaching out to our affiliate Power 3 Technologies, Inc. They are considering establishment of a modest assembly facility to produce Portable Solar Generators, LED Solar Lighting, and also Public Solar Charging Stations for the Family Islands as as a way to generate jobs and create a new "Made In The Bahamas" renewable energy industry. This opportunity is also open to other regions that have an interest in expanding Micro-Business opportunities in the renewable energy industry.

The PreLaunch campaign was initiated to gauge the level of interest. These are very small steps, of course, but progress in the right direction with the right intention and heart. Knowledge is empowering, and we believe that working together should always build success for" everyone" involved.

If you would like to become part of the Power 3 Technologies team, and help promote and participate in the Pre-Launch event, you can play a part in bringing renewable energy manufacturing to the Bahamas by visiting the Solar Generator Campaign at https://www.thunderclap.it/projects/45409-refueling-for-free-with-solar?locale=en

1 comment:

UnknownSeptember 12, 2017 at 2:04 AM
Thank you for sharing valuable information. Nice post. I enjoyed reading this post.
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Solar kWh Costs - News Archive

Having recently seen single module PV prices dropping to a low of $0.60/Watt, it's no surprise to also see associated solar electric kWh costs plummet.

Searching through online archives we find a related article posted February 12, 2014 on www.Energy.Gov, by Erin R. Pierce, "The U.S. solar industry is growing at a record-breaking pace, while becoming more affordable and accessible than ever before. The industry’s forward progress comes in part thanks to support from the Energy Department’s SunShot Initiative.

Set up in 2011 to re-establish U.S. leadership in the solar marketplace, SunShot partners with industry, universities, local communities and the Department’s National Laboratories to aggressively drive down the cost of solar-powered electricity generation across America.

To achieve this goal, SunShot works to lower the price of solar electricity to $0.06 per kilowatt hour (KWh) -- a cost target that will make solar-generated power to be fully cost-competitive with traditional energy sources by the end of the decade."

Fast forward to 2015 and we read of a recent study by the Berlin-based Agora Energiewende, a leading German think tank. The lead author, and renewable energy specialist Daniel Fuerstenwerth says that one of the reasons for the study was the lack of recognition among policy makers and advisors about future cost falls in solar PV, and official forecasts which continued to downplay the potential role of the technology.

He goes on to say that "the cost reduction potential of large scale solar is still misunderstood, and predicts that solar PV will be the cheapest form of power within a decade, and cost less than $US0.02/kWh by 2050."

Originally published in RenewEconomy, we further read from the Angora report that “Our results indicate that solar power will become the cheapest source of electricity in many regions of the world, reaching costs of between Euro 1.6 and 3.7c/kWh in India and the Mena region (Middle East and North Africa) by 2050.

Cost competitiveness, we're told, with large scale conventional power plants will be reached in these regions already within the next decade, at a cost for solar power by 2025 ranging between 3.3 and 5.4 ct/kWh.

The article places emphasis on the fact that, "in UAE for instance, solar is already cost competitive, with a tender for 200MW of solar going at less than $US0.06/kWh, less than the prevailing cost of gas-fired generation at $US0.09/kwh."