On Friday, March 24, the Government of Montserrat and Montserrat Utilities Limited (MUL) released a Request for Qualifications for interested parties to qualify for the Engineering, Procurement and Construction for a 1 megawatt (MW) solar photovoltaic (PV) and battery project.
The solar project is part of the new national energy policy released last year, titled “The Power to Change – Montserrat Energy Policy 2016 – 2030 (MEP 2016-2030).”
The tender represents the first in a two phase solar project. The first phase will account for 250 kilowatts (kW) of solar capacity. Upon completion, the first solar project will generate 11% of the current peak load or maximum electric power needed on island. The second phase will begin in early 2018 and consists of an additional 750kW of solar and associated battery storage.
The solar project is intended to:
- provide an environmentally responsible supplement for the existing diesel-only generation on the island
- Provide a solar electricity source that supplies renewable electricity to Montserrat for reducing the amount of fossil fuels used on Montserrat.
- Provide a generation capability that improves the cost effectiveness of delivery.
The goal for the RFQ is to identify a short list of bidders to source an EPC firm that will complete a detailed design, provide erect, connect, operate and maintain the solar PV and storage systems for a period of at least one (1) year on the Project sites. Subsequent to this RFQ, Requests for Proposals (RFPs) will be issued to a limited number of the best qualified bidders.
The current capacity of MUL’s electricity generation consists entirely of diesel generators. Like most islands, Montserrat relies entirely on foreign sources of petroleum to operate its power plant. GoM/MUL plans to transition to 100% renewable energy sources via first solar and storage then through geothermal power.
To learn more or bid on the project, visit the tender section of the Government’s
website www.gov.ms/tenders/. For media inquiries, please contact olewis@carbonwarroom.com.
