FXB ANNOUNCES IMPLEMENTATION OF SOLAR PLANT IN CARIBBEAN
FXB Engineering Announces Implementation of a Solar Generating Plant for St. Thomas, USVI that will provide up to 5% of the Islands Energy Source.
FXB Engineering promotes their continued engineering services to The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority. “FXB implemented a new 34.5kV Gas Insulated Switchgear (GIS) located in a Power Distribution Center (PDC) to tie in the 4.2 MW of solar power into VIWAPA’s transmission system. We are excited to be a part of this project. The newly installed solar farm will provide 4-5% of the Islands current base load capacity during daylight hours.
This project required a robust double bus 34.5kV GIS design with primary and backup protection for the transmission lines in order to maintain a high level of reliability on VIWAPA’s transmission system,” states Peter J. Bonnes, P.E., President at FXB Engineering. The Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority and Main Street Power Company hosted dedication ceremonies last month for the new solar power generation plant. The new facility was tested and peaked at 4.2MW. WAPA Chief Executive Officer and Executive Director Hugo V. Hodge, Jr. said, “the addition of the solar farm and a similar installation on St. Croix, which was dedicated in 2014, continues the authority’s effort to diversify its generation resources.”
For more information see article in Electrical Construction and Maintenance, March 12, 2015, WAPA, Main Street Power and Morgan Stanley Commission Solar Photovoltaic Project.