Reducing the need for gensets to power the island, providing grid stability and black-start from the batteries, are the newest features within the latest extension of this hybrid plant. With the redundant PPM to control the whole island, we implemented more safety in terms of energy security.
Project Figures
Power
7 MW
Components
3 x SCS
3 x MVPS
STP
Monitoring
2x SMA Power Plant Manager
+ Hybrid Controller
Battery capacity
10 MWh
Role
AC Integrator
Application
Island Electrification with high renewable penetration
Island St Eustatius Dutch Caribbean
This unique power project is realized in three phases
Phase 1 (2016)
The main challenge was the grid stability due to fast power fluctuations related to cloud movement. SMA Altenso integrated a Li-Ion storage facility to absorb such fluctuations, provide energy shifting and frequency stability functionalities also at nighttime. 2 MWp of PV and 570 kWh of batteries were installed. The observed solar fraction reaches 88% at midday.
Phase 2 (2017)
An expansion of the first phase has been commissioned in 2017. The feature of the project is the diesel-off operation, which allows the island to switch off the generators during the day and run completely on the solar energy. The system also included additional 2.15 MWp and 4.4 MW of grid forming battery inverters with 5.35 MWh of batteries. With this new set-up, 46% of annual penetration is reached and over 1.5 million liters of diesel are annually saved.
Phase 3 (2024)
Additional 3 MWp of solar and 12.5 MWh of Grid Forming Storage were added, while the load demand of the island also continues to increase. With these new additions and despite the load increase, 60% of annual penetration is reached and an even more significant amount of diesel is annually saved.
SMA System Technology
Our power conversion units and battery containers are manufactured in a serial mass production in Kassel (Germany). We keep highest production standards and deliver worldwide even to very remote and secluded locations.
20 foot Medium Voltage Power Station (MVPS)
containing SMA Sunny Central Storage inverter technology
SMA Power Plant Manager with Hybrid Controller
Innovative monitoring and controll systems
Island electrification
100% solar power for the Caribbean island St. Eustatius
Power
Components
Monitoring
Battery capacity
Role
Application
