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Groundbreaking day on St. Kitts! Shovels in the ground to mark the start of site preparation work for the Caribbean\u2019s largest solar energy production and energy storage plant being built by Leclanch\u00e9. Pictured (l to r): Clement J. Williams, General Manager, St. Kitts Electricity Co.; Dr. Hon. Timothy Harris, Prime Minster of St. Kitts & Nevis; Hon. Shawn K. Richards, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy et al; and Bryan Urban, Executive VP, Leclanch\u00e9<\/p><\/div>\n
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- Innovative, fully integrated solar photovoltaic generation and lithium-ion battery energy storage system, will displace 30-35% of the islands\u2019 diesel-generated baseload power<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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- Sustainable microgrid system to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 740,000 metric tons over 20 years<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n
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BASSETERRE, St Kitts and Nevis and YVERDON-LES-BAINS, Switzerland, December 10<\/strong>, 2020\u00a0<\/strong>\u2013 The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis, the state-owned St. Kitts Electric Company (SKELEC) and\u00a0Leclanch\u00e9<\/a>\u00a0SA (SIX: LECN) today broke ground on a landmark solar generation and storage project that will provide between 30-35% of St. Kitts baseload energy needs for the next 20-25 years while reducing carbon dioxide emissions by more than 740,000 metric tons.<\/p>\n
The $70 million microgrid project is being built by Leclanch\u00e9, one of the world\u2019s leading energy storage companies, which will serve as the prime engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) contractor. Leclanch\u00e9 will provide a turnkey solar plus storage solution together with its main subcontractor Grupotec, headquartered in Valencia, Spain, an experienced engineering and construction firm and leader in the photovoltaic energy sector. Leclanch\u00e9 will own and operate the facility under its strategic build, own and operate model through its SOLEC Power Ltd subsidiary with partner Solrid Ltd.<\/p>\n
Construction and start-up will take approximately 18 months. The project consists of a fully integrated 35.7 MW solar photovoltaic system (solar field) and a 14.8 MW \/ 45.7 MWh lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) utilizing Leclanch\u00e9\u2019s proprietary energy management system software. Upon completion, the St. Kitts project will be the largest solar generation and energy storage system in the Caribbean and a model for other island nations worldwide. In its first year of operation, the system will generate approximately 61,300 MWh of electricity with a 41,500 metric ton reduction of CO2<\/sub>\u00a0emissions.<\/p>\n
\u201cToday\u2019s groundbreaking marks a significant milestone for our citizens, tourist economy, our broader business community and indeed the entire Caribbean region, despite the delays caused by COVID-19,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0said Dr. Honorable Timothy Harris, St. Kitts and Nevis Prime Minister.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cThis visionary project will help secure our energy independence, provide long-term price stability and reduce our reliance on diesel fuel.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\u00a0<\/em>\u201cThe amount of carbon dioxide emissions we will reduce \u2013 nearly three quarters of a million metric tons over 20 years \u2013 is a significant demonstration of our strong policy for clean, renewable energy. We invite our Caribbean neighbors \u2013 and island communities around the world \u2013 to consider joining us in a commitment to a sustainable energy future for our children and generations to come,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0said Harris<\/strong><\/p>\n
Very Beneficial Use of Government-owned Land:<\/u><\/h4>\n
The project is being built in St. Kitts\u2019 Basseterre Valley on a 102-acre plot of government-owned land adjacent to the current SKELEC power station and next to the thriving capital city of Basseterre, the heart of the country\u2019s economic region.<\/p>\n
The land, which was once used for sugar cane production but has been idle for years, was leased to Leclanch\u00e9 by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis under a 20-year agreement with an automatic five-year renewal. Environmental Impact Assessment and geotechnical analysis were successfully completed in 2019, demonstrating the renewable energy project will bring a positive impact to the Basseterre Valley.<\/p>\n
Novel \u201cNo Capital Outlay\u201d Arrangement with St. Kitts<\/u><\/h4>\n
\u201cSKELEC has been working closely with Leclanch\u00e9 for nearly two years now developing a state-of-the-art and highly sustainable energy production and storage system to serve our citizens,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0said Honorable<\/strong>\u00a0Shawn Richards, Deputy Prime Minister Public Infrastructure, Post and Urban Development.<\/strong>\u00a0\u201cSt. Kitts residents will enjoy energy price stability for a generation while benefitting from cleaner air and water.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
\u201cWe set out to create a model solar energy production and storage system here for SKELEC that generates long-term financial and environmental benefits for the utility and its customers without SKELEC having to make a costly up-front investment,\u201d<\/em>\u00a0said Anil Srivastava, CEO, Leclanch\u00e9<\/strong>.\u00a0\u201cTogether, we have designed a system whose construction and ongoing energy production will be paid for over time from the sale of clean and reliable solar energy. We are pleased to have accomplished both objectives while developing a project financeable by well-established institutional investors.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n
Clean, renewable energy produced from the solar + storage project will be sold to SKELEC under a 20-year power purchase agreement at flat rate over that entire period which is designed to provide a significant long-term savings to the projected diesel generation costs.<\/p>\n
How the Solar Generation and Storage System Works<\/u><\/h4>\n
Currently, tankers deliver diesel fuel to St. Kitts on a weekly basis, and the fuel is then burned in generators to produce all the nation\u2019s electricity. This expensive process contributes to local pollution and global warming (each gallon of diesel generates 22 pounds of CO2<\/sub>\u00a0when burned). The solar and storage project should reduce diesel use by 30-35%, saving money and the environment.<\/p>\n
Leclanch\u00e9\u2019s fully integrated system consists of three core components: the solar field, battery storage system and energy management system software.<\/p>\n
The solar panels collect sunlight that is converted into electricity. The solar project on St. Kitts will be oversized, allowing a portion of that electricity to meet current electric demand on the island, and the remainder to charge the large-scale battery storage system to meet island demand after the sun sets. The battery system will also improve grid stability and serve as a back-up in case one of the diesel generators fails.<\/p>\n
The batteries will be housed in 14 custom-designed enclosures near the main SKELEC power station and adjacent to the solar field. Additional equipment such as inverters, transformers and protection devices will ensure that the electricity from the new project is reliable and safe.<\/p>\n
Leclanch\u00e9\u2019s energy management system software integrates all the different components of the system and coordinates the delivery of electricity to the grid according to SKELEC\u2019s requirements. Once completed in the first half of 2022, the solar and storage system will replace over four million gallons of diesel per year, and the battery system will enable the remaining diesel generators to operate more efficiently.<\/p>\n
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Aerial drone view of Basseterre Valley on St. Kitts where Leclanch\u00e9\u2019s solar generation and energy storage system is being built. The project is being built on a 102-acre plot of government-owned land adjacent to the current SKELEC power station and next to the thriving capital city of Basseterre, the heart of the country\u2019s economic region.<\/p><\/div>\n
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About Leclanch\u00e9<\/strong><\/p>\n
Headquartered in Switzerland, Leclanch\u00e9 SA is a leading provider of high-quality energy storage solutions designed to accelerate our progress towards a clean energy future. Leclanch\u00e9\u2019s history and heritage is rooted in over 100 years of battery and energy storage innovation and the Company is a trusted provider of energy storage solutions globally. This coupled with the Company\u2019s culture of German engineering and Swiss precision and quality, continues to make Leclanch\u00e9 the partner of choice for both disruptors, established companies and governments who are pioneering positive changes in how energy is produced, distributed and consumed around the world. The energy transition is being driven primarily by changes in the management of our electricity networks and the electrification of transport, and these two end markets form the backbone of our strategy and business model. Leclanch\u00e9 is at the heart of the convergence of the electrification of transport and the changes in the distribution network. Leclanch\u00e9 is the only listed pure play energy storage company in the world, organised along three business units: stationary storage solutions, e-Transport solutions and specialty batteries systems. Leclanch\u00e9 is listed on the Swiss Stock Exchange (SIX: LECN).<\/p>\n
SIX Swiss Exchange: ticker symbol LECN | ISIN CH 011 030 311 9<\/p>\n
Disclaimer<\/strong><\/p>\n
This press release contains certain forward-looking statements relating to Leclanch\u00e9\u2019s business, which can be identified by terminology such as \u201cstrategic\u201d, \u201cproposes\u201d, \u201cto introduce\u201d, \u201cwill\u201d, \u201cplanned\u201d, \u201cexpected\u201d, \u201ccommitment\u201d, \u201cexpects\u201d, \u201cset\u201d, \u201cpreparing\u201d, \u201cplans\u201d, \u201cestimates\u201d, \u201caims\u201d, \u201cwould\u201d, \u201cpotential\u201d, \u201cawaiting\u201d, \u201cestimated\u201d, \u201cproposal\u201d, or similar expressions, or by expressed or implied discussions regarding the ramp up of Leclanch\u00e9\u2019s production capacity, potential applications for existing products, or regarding potential future revenues from any such products, or potential future sales or earnings of Leclanch\u00e9 or any of its business units. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward-looking statements reflect the current views of Leclanch\u00e9 regarding future events, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such statements. There can be no guarantee that Leclanch\u00e9\u2019s products will achieve any particular revenue levels. Nor can there be any guarantee that Leclanch\u00e9, or any of the business units, will achieve any particular financial results.<\/p>\n
Contacts Leclanch\u00e9<\/strong><\/p>\n
Media S<\/strong>witzerland \/Europe:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Thierry Meyer<\/p>\n
T: +41 (0) 79\u00a0785 35 81<\/p>\n
E-mail:\u00a0tme@dynamicsgroup.ch<\/a><\/p>\n
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Media North America:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Henry Feintuch \/ Ashley Blas<\/p>\n
T: +1-914-548-6924 \/ +1-509-494-4053<\/p>\n
E-mail:\u00a0leclanche@feintuchpr.com\u00a0\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n
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Media Germany:<\/strong><\/p>\n
Christoph Miller<\/p>\n
T: +49 (0) 711 947 670<\/p>\n
E-mail:\u00a0leclanche@sympra.de<\/a><\/p>\n
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- Sustainable microgrid system to reduce CO2 emissions by more than 740,000 metric tons over 20 years<\/em><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n