ENERGY GLOBE
Belize

WINNER:
Turneffe Flats Resort

With the Project:
110 KW Off-grid Solar/Lithium Battery Power System

Turneffe Flats Resort is a remote eco-tourism resort, completely self-sufficient without any public services. It is located at Turneffe Atoll, a remote atoll 30 miles away from Belize City, Belize. Turneffe Flats specialises in fly fishing, scuba diving and marine ecotourism. Water, waste and power systems have been developed to provide top-quality service with minimal environmental impact. For many years, diesel generators were the only feasible source for electrical power. Diesel fuel is expensive in Belize and also has adverse effects on the environment. In order to meet the resort’s energy needs, a large-scale photovoltaic power system was therefore installed which provides 80% of the power needs. The system has been in operation for nearly a year and its goals of reducing both diesel fuel consumption and carbon emissions are being met.

INITIAL SITUATION

The resort being 50 km far from the shore and away from all infrastructure services often leads to challenges. In particular, the design aspects and transportation were the most challenging parts of the project. For many years, diesel generators were the only feasible source of electrical power in the Turneffe Flats Resort. Over the years, power requirements increased to 80 kW, leading to the requirement of diesel generators to operate the resort. These generators contribute to air and sound pollution, and are also costly. One of the major drawbacks of diesel generators is that they produce carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and other dangerous exhausts that are released into the atmosphere.

SOLUTION

Turneffe Flats has long been one of the Caribbean’s most innovative fishing and diving resorts. It has been a leader in sustainable eco-tourism for many years. A solar power system was developed for the resort which is cost-effective and significantly reduces carbon emissions. The installation of the 110 kW off-grid power system, finished in late 2019, consists of 114 solar panels, 45 lithium-ion batteries, 12 DC controllers and 12 AC/DC controllers. Diesel fuel is expensive in Belize. However, this power system provides approximately 80% of the electrical power needs and replaces almost 65,000 l of diesel fuel each year, resulting in substantial savings. This improvement, along with lower costs, finally made the project economically feasible. The resort is extremely pleased with the system’s reliability and is looking forward to fine-tuning the system to provide nearly all of its power needs.

INNOVATION

In this project, the largest off-grid solar/lithium battery power system in the Caribbean was implemented, generating 110 KW of clean energy. It includes a solar panel field, a bank of lithium-ion batteries and a state-of-the-art automated control system. Prior to installing the solar system, the entire electrical grid was upgraded and a facility was built to house the batteries and controls. Diesel generators are utilised as a backup and for recharging the batteries. Besides, numerous energy saving measures have been in place for several years including low energy LED lighting throughout its property with motion sensors where applicable. A state-of-the-art remote monitoring system is in place to monitor its power usage, allowing to minimise the power usage at all times. With the system fully operational, the engineers can now monitor it online from almost 5,000 km away.