Bringing smart storage technology to the Caribbean

A major sustainable energy transition is happening in the Caribbean. Heavy fuel-based economies and vulnerability to extreme weather see the region pushing for greater resiliency and energy security. Upgrades to existing infrastructure are supporting the increased demand for energy capacity brought by tourism. So is the case off the northern cost of Honduras on the island of Roatan, where a robust sustainable energy investment strategy is accelerating the region’s clean energy transition.

In 2016, the island reduced its carbon footprint by a quarter and improved its electricity supply by introducing a 28 MW power plant of Wärtsilä 34SGLPG engine generating sets. Existing operational and infrastructure challenges are related to high energy costs and fuel consumption as well as other difficulties associated with operating an isolated distribution grid, has spurred a renewables shift for Roatan. And it has not stopped at a more efficient power plant.

Wärtsilä’s solution was an energy upgrade—including a new 10 MW / 26 MWh energy storage system and advanced control platform—that introduced flexibility into the local Roatan grid. While the batteries secure reliability by eliminating the need for mechanical spinning reserve, Wärtsilä’s sophisticated GEMS energy management software controls Roatan’s entire energy system, including enhancing earlier delivered Wärtsilä engines and solar panels.

The optimisation capabilities enabled by Wärtsilä's energy storage system have increased the reliability of the system, as well as prepared the Roatan hybrid power system for a shift to large-scale renewables integration.