:: Bonaire to become Caribbean’s first self-supporting island
with sustainable energy
+ 13.02.2007 + EcoPower Bonaire BV, a consortium of Econcern, Enercon
and MAN, has signed a contract with the Water and Energy Company of
Bonaire (WEB Bonaire NV) to build a new wind turbine.
This is the first step in a wind/diesel project that will supply the
South Caribbean Island with 10 MW from wind and 13 MW from diesel.
Bonaire requires approximately 12 MW at peak moments. The system will
be able to provide the whole island with electricity by the end of
2008. It will drive energy prices down while at the same time reducing
Bonaire’s dependence on the fluctuating oil prices. Dirk
Berkhout, member of the board of Econcern: “The cost of the
wind/diesel combination is approximately 35-40 million dollars.
We expect that some of this can be recovered via CO2 credits. The
main objective of the first phase of the project is to gain experience
with wind energy on Bonaire and to reduce short-term electricity
costs. The finalised system design will rely on 40% of the total
power requirement coming from wind. The remainder will be supplied
with fuel oil, preferably biofuel. By 2010 it is conceivable that
Bonaire will get all of its electrical energy from natural, renewable
sources.”
Wind turbine at Sorobon, Southeast Bonaire
EcoPower intends to install a new Enercon E33 wind turbine at Sorobon
on the Southeast coast of Bonaire. An obsolete Nedwind turbine will
be removed. The turbine has not been operational for the last 10
years. The Sorbon site is the ideal location for the new wind turbine,
with its favourable climate conditions and the existing grid connection
for one medium-sized device. The first wind turbine will start supplying
electricity in the second quarter of 2007.
Wind diesel energy supply
The next phase – to be completed in the 3rd quarter of 2008
– will involve the construction of a 10 MW wind farm and a
13 MW diesel power plant. The wind farm (11 or 12 turbines) will
be built on the Northeast coast of Bonaire, the windward side of
the island. Each turbine has the capacity to produce 0.8 –
0.9 MW of energy. Under ideal circumstances, this wind farm alone
could meet Bonaire’s current electrical needs. The wind farm
will be designed based on measurements registered by a Met mast
that was installed in January. A new 13-MW diesel power plant will
be built by MAN at the BOPEC site. The plant will be equipped to
burn both conventional and biofuels.
Econcern
Econcern is the holding company of Ecofys, Evelop, Ecostream and
Ecoventures. The mission of these European companies is to ensure
‘a sustainable energy supply for everyone’. Econcern
delivers unique projects and innovative products and services for
a sustainable energy supply. The Econcern group employs about 550
professionals in 15 countries.
The consortium partners
The new company Ecopower Bonaire BV will build, own and operate
the facilities. It is also responsible for technical management
during the first phase. MAN, the largest diesel engine manufacturer
in the world, will manage the technical aspects involved in building
the new power plant near BOPEC in the north-west corner of Bonaire.
Enercon, the world’s fourth largest manufacturer of wind turbines,
will deliver the turbines.
source:
Econcern 2007 |