US Virgin Islands to Revolutionize Power Supply with Solar-Plus-Battery Systems

Honeywell Process Solutions is making a huge impact in the US Virgin Islands by installing 124 MWh of its battery energy storage systems alongside 140 MW of solar at six sites. This will help the US Virgin Islands meet 30% of its electricity needs with renewable energy.

December 7, 2023 Jerusha Kamoji

Image: Honeywell

From pv magazine USA

Impressively, Honeywell Process Solutions is working with Massachusetts-based renewable energy developer VIElectron to bring battery energy storage systems to the US Virgin Islands. These systems will be co-located with six solar facilities across the islands of St. Thomas, St. Croix, and St. John.

The BESS will consist of lithium-ion battery systems, adding 124 MWh of energy storage alongside the solar facilities. This solution will help stabilize the grid by absorbing excess power during low usage and releasing it during peak hours. The solar facilities will provide a total of 140 MW solar capacity.

This solar-plus-storage system is expected to cover an impressive 30% of the energy consumption needs of the US Virgin Islands.

Past reliance on fossil fuels for electricity generation resulted in high and variable electricity costs for the US Virgin Islands. The good news is that the islands have set ambitious goals to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and increase renewable energy production.

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According to the US Department of Energy (DOE), the US Virgin Islands have heavily relied on fossil fuels to generate electricity in the past. This means residents accrued expensive electricity costs that fluctuated with global oil prices.

“In 2009, the US Virgin Islands were almost 100% dependent on imported oil for electricity, water desalination and transportation, resulting in electricity costs nearly four times the US national average,” the DOE said.

Since then, the US Virgin Islands have set a goal to reduce its dependence on fossil fuels for energy production by 60% by 2025. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) adds that the U.S. Virgin Islands also want to generate 30% of peak capacity from renewables by 2025. According to the DOE, the territory is well on its way to reaching these goals due to its growing portfolio of renewable energy projects that include:

• A 448 kW solar system located at the Cyril E. King Airport on St. Thomas. According to NREL, this is one of the largest solar plants in the Caribbean. Moreover, it saves almost $1,000 each day in electricity costs.
• 15 MW of distributed solar plants either in place or under construction
• Energy efficiency upgrades in 11 schools that led to an energy-cost saving of $3 million. This allowed the US Virgin Islands government to allocate $35 million toward installing lighting and water retrofits in 34 more schools.
• Almost 1,500 solar water heating and plant systems installations throughout the territory.

Pramesh Maheshwari, president of Honeywell,

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