Solar street lighting in caribbean islands

The National Development Plan 2014-2018 determined in its axis “A- A Prosperous, Equitable Caribbean without Extreme Poverty”, as a priority for the Archipelago, the need to develop projects, policies and initiatives aimed at reducing the consumption of DIESEL fuel as a primary source in its Objective 4:“ Advancing towards the provision of energy cleaner and less expensive ”.

In coherence with this, the Departmental Development Plan has established in its strategic axis the development of a Sustainable Archipelago, based on the development of projects that allow the current use of DIESEL to be displaced by energies from renewable sources.

Following these premises, and based on CONPES 3855 document, the route is established so that within the framework of the Clean Investment Funds (CIF – Clean Investment Funds), resources are received from the Clean Technology Fund (CTF – Clean Technology Fund ). Resources that were destined to finance and scale projects in the areas of urban transport, energy efficiency (EE) and renewable energies (FNCER). Starting with a pilot for 14 users on Santa Catalina Island and 1 institutional user on San Andrés Island.

The objective of this pilot was to implement and evaluate solutions based on Energy Efficiency and Renewables, in order to establish the basis for the development of the massive Efficiency Plan with allocated resources of USD $ 10 million.

In 2017, in alliance with the Government of the Department, EEDAS developed the socialization and sensitization of the community of the archipelago of San Andrés, Providencia and Santa Catalina regarding the energy transformation aiming towards the efficient use of renewable energies and unconventional sources of energy in the Seaflower Biosphere Reserve

The number of socializations carried out was 16,000 throughout the Archipelago, door-to-door visits were made in each of the selected homes, explaining the energy transformation and communicating the benefits acquired after the efficient use of energy resources, in order that users learned and internalized a series of behavioral guidelines on the use of energy.

EEDAS identified nine (09) energy efficiency recommendations prioritized towards high consumption elements and focused on the customs of the region (culture, idiosyncrasy, physical characteristics) information that was included within the advertising material delivered to users by EEDAS S.A. E.S.P. Through brochures and posters on energy efficiency and Non-Conventional Sources of Renewable Energy and the format of socialization surveys for the residential and non-residential sector.

In the Archipelago, 120,000 barrels of oil are consume annually in the transportation component, a situation that exceeds consumption for electricity production by 25%. This situation within the biosphere reserve calls for the establishment of specific plans for the revision and transformation of the high dependence on fossil fuel.

Due to the strengths of the new EEDAS headquarters and its Insular Monitoring Center, it is important to carry out a test pilot for electric vehicles to determine the following parameters:

Durability of the components.
Stability and duration of the accumulators.
Renewable charging systems.
Performance and performance.

As EEDAS carries out Auditing and monitoring tasks for energy and renewable transformation projects, it becomes the ideal vehicle for testing 2 electric transport systems.

The vehicles will be charge through a system of photovoltaic panels interconnected with the photovoltaic solar power system of the new Headquarters (Grid Tie).

The system to be use in an area of 60m2 will contain the following elements:

a.- Structure.
b.- Photovoltaic panels.
c.- Investors / Regulators / Control.
d.- Measurement and monitoring system.

As a complement to the new EEDAS S.A. Headquarters projects, this project was structure for the application of a hybrid system (photovoltaic – wind) for self-generation of energy in the new educational classrooms and the administrative building of the Caribbean headquarters of the National University (San Luis Headquarters). Besides, it allows achieving the development of energy efficiency alternatives that contribute to the reduction of subsidies for lower rates; this project owned by EEDAS S.A. E.S.P., is oriented to active buildings and with the purpose that the model remunerates its operating and investment costs via kWh produced.

The project has been operating since 2014, where the system tests and necessary adjustments were carry out to connect to the network. Currently, the system installed at the National University represents the first Grid Tie system in the region and has provided valuable information that EEDAS has incorporated into its project bank, especially the energy transformation process of the Archipelago and the New Headquarters.

Additionally, EEDAS carried out two photovoltaic installations. The first one was for the First Baptist School on the Hill that aimed to cover about a quarter of its energy needs (8 kWp). The other was for the first Baptist Church, which in the first phase generated about 40% of its consumption (3 kWp) and in the second phase, with accumulators (batteries) that target 90% of the demand, taking advantage of the fact that the islands have an excellent wind and solar resource.

EEDAS S.A. E.S.P. in 2016 presented to the Mayor of the Municipality of Providence and Santa Catalina a conceptual proposal for the development of a floating solar auto-generation project in the Agua Dulce dam (Fresh Water Dam). This project has a primary energy destination for the treatment plant of pumping of the aqueduct or in its defect of the Public Lighting of the sector.

This proposal, based on the advantage of installing panels in stable bodies of water (dams, lakes, etc.) where direct and indirect radiation (known as albedo) is use, given the reflection characteristics of the water, increasing solar use. In addition, the bodies of water maintain lower temperatures, which increases the efficiency and performance of the panels.

The project was known by the Global Green Growth Institute GGGI firm, which seeks to implement the project with international cooperation resources, requiring the development of previous studies aimed at the implementation of a floating solar self-generation installation in the Fresh Water dam. Decision was made to hire EEDAS SA E.S.P., based on her experience in renewable energies as up to $ 22 thousand USD worth.

The energy of the system will be used to supply part of the energy consumption of the pumping station of the Providence and Santa Catalina, which has an average monthly consumption of 8,000 kWh.

During 2019, an important achievement was accomplish by completing, after five years of work, the approval of the project “Research for the strengthening of capacities in the provision of energy in the islands”. The cost worth $ 6,996 million (resources CTeI SGR OCAD), was obtained in the Ministry of Science, highlighting that the evaluation committee recommended EEDAS S.A. for its experience and knowledge as executor.

This project is a turning point for energy in the islands because it incorporates the PIMMA Monitoring, Measurement and Analysis Platform as a center, which will collect all the information on the islands’ energy system and generate databases for 5 power lines. This Research is associated with the same number of scholarships for master degrees; training for more than 1,000 inhabitants and the implementation of 2 pilot projects. The first self-generation solar medium-scale installation with 140 kWp capacity and a pilot of green electroline stations and electric vehicles (6) to evaluate the incorporation of a mass and particular electrical transport system to the clean energy matrix of the Islands.

This project is of great relevance for the Islands, since it aims to establish the foundations for a future energy transformation, not only generating experience, but also defining knowledge as a critical mass for the future development of projects, with an approach aimed at building capacities in the population.

The relevant figure: The pilots associated with the project, by 2040 will reduce 3,220 Tons of CO2 in emissions (by replacing DIESEL with photovoltaic solar energy and mini-wind systems).

The fishing terminal for artisanal fishermen in the northern area of San Andrés, has the implementation of a solar / mini-wind self-generation system with a capacity of 50 kWp and the development of Energy Efficiency measures that allow reducing the projected consumption of the building by 50%, with estimated savings per month for the department of $ 12 million and for the nation of $ 14 million in subsidies, with a total investment of $ 900 million.

The San Andrés fishing terminal is located in the industrial zone of the department, adjacent to the facilities where the DIMAR operates, a place that will become the main site for the collection of marine product, processing and sale, with which the strengthening of artisanal fishing activity and generate a whole social economy around fishing on the Island of San Andrés.

At a general level in the fishing industry, the energy cost associated with the cold chain is one of the components with the greatest weight in operating costs. The islands are not alien to this situation and from the future perspective, the cost generated in the energy bill will be one of the main challenges to face when starting the fishery, because the freezing systems start from an important consumption base (empty), which increases with demand and this combined with a significant cost per kilowatt hour will have to be validated to guarantee the sustainability of the operation.

The scope of this project is the activities of information analysis, data collection, design, preparation and implementation of energy efficiency measures with emphasis on the use of Non-Conventional Renewable Energy Sources as a cost reduction measure in operation and reduction use of fossil fuels as a primary energy source and therefore GHG Greenhouse Gas emissions.

The relevant figure: By 2040 the project will reduce 1,073 Tons of CO2 in emissions (by replacing DIESEL with photovoltaic solar energy and mini-wind systems).

The main purpose of the new EEDAS Bio Climatic Headquarters is to meet the need to strengthen the operational structure and develop efficient cost management, contributing to the management of the energy transformation process of the Islands, as the new headquarters is an operational management laboratory comprehensive energy and rational use of energy.

EEDAS Headquarters operates in facilities located in the renowned Punta Hansa sector. At present, the automation systems and the self-generation system are operational.

The building has generated a total change in the operational dynamics of the organization, guaranteeing comfort and safety to the workers, highlighting the strategic importance of having the only building with Bio Climatic characteristics in the Archipelago, which places EEDAS as a leader in these Projects.

Among the highlights of the project are:

25 kW Photo Voltaic Self Generation System

EEDAS has 3 years in advance of Law 1715 of 2014, during which she formulated, structured and executed 2 projects with Non-Conventional Renewable Energy Sources. The main strength of the New Headquarters corresponds to the fact that 85% of its consumption comes from clean energy, which also generates cost savings for the service.

LIGHTING AUTOMATION SYSTEM.

EEDAS building has a fully automated centralized lighting system, with high-efficiency T5 and LED luminaires, comparable to modern systems such as the one used at the Nuevo El Dorado Airport.

In the Energy Efficiency component, the UPME identified as one of the critical factors in energy efficiency in the Islands, the lighting of both homes and commercial and official buildings. In this sense, EEDAS observes the business potential associated with energy efficiency, which is why she designed and developed an automated system for energy saving and as a “Show Room” for potential clients.

HVAC AUTOMATION SYSTEM.

One of the most innovative aspects of the EEDAS Building is the Air Conditioning automation system, which at a cost 70% less than a centralized system, takes advantage of the Air Inverters available in the market to manage consumption.

TECHNICAL ANALYSIS FOR EACH UNIT

The system used by EEDAS takes advantage of the lighting automation system (sensors, KNX system) to control the Air Conditioning units with RF signal inductors, activating or deactivating functions according to the movement of personnel (sensors).

The objective of the system is to achieve the maximum efficiency of the component responsible for 70% of consumption in institutional buildings and that represents close to $ 60,000 million in subsidies per year at the Department level.

From the financial point of view, the project for the new headquarters represents real and effective savings, since the headquarters has, as said at the beginning, a self-generation system of energy from a solar system located on its roof with a capacity of 25 kW.

The objective is to solve the public lighting deficit in the southern area of San Andrés Island, for which an energetically sustainable solution was developed for public lighting because there are no electrical networks and it is a traffic area for both residents and tourists who have security problems.
The project is of great importance to establish a change in the public lighting system of the Islands, which is responsible for generating about 2,600 tons of CO2 per year.

The project consists of the installation of 180 LED luminaires with photovoltaic power systems that include their own storage system (batteries). The luminaires are distributed in the South End sector, which does not have a public lighting supply or infrastructure available for a potential expansion of conventional lighting.

The solution represents a challenge, depending on the investment and the application of alternatives based only on energy efficiency, compared to the necessary investment and sustainability in the medium and long term. Despite the fact that there are initiatives in other countries and in large cities with this type of technology, in non-interconnected areas (ZNI) and in island areas, no innovation has been applied in public lighting systems beyond the replacement of the luminaires to LED.

Project location.

This project goes from the eastern margin of the Island to the Elsy Bar sector. The first support located at the coordinates N 12º 29 ’32’ ‘and W 81º 43′ 18 ”, crossing the bypass towards the south passing through south end (South End), bordering towards the West intermittently towards the north until the West View sector, with the last support located at the coordinates N 12º 30 ’80’ ‘and W 81º 43’ 46 ” . Additionally, secondary roads such as Velodia Road and Elsy Bar, where there was no infrastructure, will be covered within the project.

The relevant figure: By 2040 the project will reduce 545 Tons of CO2 in emissions (by replacing DIESEL with photovoltaic solar energy).