This document assesses the viability of solar energy as an alternative energy resource for the Bahamas. It analyzes the country's current reliance on imported fossil fuels, the electrical utility market breakdown among islands, and average household energy usage. The document finds that solar irradiance and technical potential allow for viable solar power generation. Specifically, solar parks and greenfield installations could power the out islands at 58 megawatts of capacity. This would reduce peak load on utilities and lower fuel costs. The document also examines considerations for implementing solar in more populated and urbanized areas.

1. RENEWABLE ENERGY CONSIDERATIONS
FOR THE BAHAMAS
Charvari Watson Rahming
Applied Meteorology
November 10th 2015
Solar Panels – Andros
Hotel
Credits: Bahamas Out
Island Promotion Board

2. OBJECTIVES
 Assess the need for an alternative energy
resource
 Analyze the breakdown of electrical utility
market and population in the Bahamas
 Discuss the viability of solar energy as an
energy resource of choice in the Bahamas
 Analyze the implementation of photo voltaic
cells and solar parks to the electrical utility
market in the family islands, New Providence
and Grand Bahama
 Propose goals and potential action plan for
implementation of solar power in the Bahamas

3. THE BAHAMAS AND ENERGY RESOURCES
Satellite image of the Bahamas: Courtesy of Rolling Harbor
Residential Power Line installation: Courtesy of the Seeley family

4. THE BAHAMAS ENERGY MARKET
 Imported oil products accounts for 99% of
total energy utilized for energy consumption
 44% from heavy fuel
 56% from automotive diesel oil
 Two electrical utility companies
 Bahamas Electricity Corporation – 80%
 Grand Bahama Power company – 20%

5. BAHAMAS ENERGY DISTRIBUTION AND DEMAND
 Distributed among 17 island grids
 Operates 30 diesel generating plants in 26
Island locations
 Capacity = 20MW or less
 Energy demand in the Bahamas
 7500 kWh per household per year on average
 664,588 MWh per year

6. MARKET SUMMARIES FOR ELECTRICAL
PROVIDERS
Utility
Companies
Bahamas
Electricity
Corporatio
n (BEC)
Grand
Bahama
Electricity
(GBE)
Totals
Plants 29 1 30
Capacity (MW) 438 141 579
Peak Demand
(MW)
359** 74 433
Percentage of
Peak Demand
/ Capacity(%)
81.96 52.48 74.78
** Projected Peak Demand By 2013; Represents all Islands Except Grand

7. NEED FOR ALTERNATE RENEWABLE RESOURCES
 Electrical energy produced comes almost
exclusively from fossil fuels
 Contributor to Green House gas emissions and
Global Warming
 Contributor to other air pollutant emissions
 Electrical grids stressed due to heavy demands
from growing market of consumers
 High utility prices and fuel surcharge
 Increased usage of generators by private homes
and companies
 Monthly outages 4 times higher than other
Caribbean companies

8. RENEWABLE ENERGY SOLUTION
Photovoltaic Solar Park, Modi India: Courtesy of Reuters

9. ENERGY FROM THE SUN
 170,000 terawatt hours of energy daily
 about 2,850 times the energy required by people
around the world.
 Amount of energy released from sun in 40
minutes = energy that is consumed by the entire
population of the planet in one year.
 Amount of energy released from sun in 20 days
= All the energy stored in Earth's reserves of
coal, oil, and natural gas
 Currently harness about 1% of this energy

10. REVIEW OF PHOTOVOLTAIC TECHNOLOGY
 Called solar cells
 Energy from photons from sun
 Direct transformation of solar radiation
energy into electrical energy
 Silicon (semi-conductor) or thin film
technology
 Energy transferred to electrons in solid
 Produces electric voltage through movement
of electrons

11. WORKING PRINCIPLE OF A PHOTOVOLTAIC CELL
Courtesy of: The Finest Solar Company, Berkshire England

12.  Hypothesis - The Bahamas is able to viably
utilize solar radiation for the generation of
electrical power. The premise is supported by
two variables:
 Global Horizontal Irradiance (GHI) - is the total
amount of shortwave radiation received from above
by a surface horizontal to the ground.
 Technical potential - represents the achievable
energy generation of a particular technology given
system performance, topographic limitations,
environmental, and land-use constraints
SOLAR ENERGY – A RENEWABLE ENERGY
SOLUTION

13.  Global Horizontal Irradiance= 5.3kWh/m2/day
 (less than region’s - 5.5 and higher)
 Based on latitude, seasonal and diurnal cycle of
the sun
 Technical potential = 58 MW/ 58000 kW
 Average maximum output of a system,
considering limitations
GHI AND TECHNICAL POTENTIAL OF SOLAR
POWER

14. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF PHOTO VOLTAIC
TECHNOLOGY
 Manufacture
 Use of hazardous materials
 Strong acids, trichloro-ethene and acetone used in
cleaning semi conductor surface
 Gallium arsenide, cadmium telluride in thin film PV cells
 Life-cycle greenhouse emissions from production
 0.08 – 0.2 pounds of CO2 equivalent per KWh
 Operation
 Land degradation
 Loss of habitat
 Water used for cooling

15. COST OF IMPLEMENTATION
 Solar power plants
 $4950 – 11311 per kW
 20 MW = $99 million
 Based on delivery system, solar multiple, storage and
capacity factors
 Building integrated solar panels
 $8500 – 11000 for 4 kwp system

16. POTENTIAL SAVINGS
 A 20 MW power station will therefore
consume about 5,000 litres an hour of fuel.
 1321.8 gallons
 Diesel fuel costs = $3.81 per gallon
 Total operating cost for 20 MW power station
 1321.8 x24 x365 x 3.81
 $44,115,868 / $44 million
 Solar power station will pay itself off in 2.25
years.

17. POTENTIAL SAVINGS
 Cost of electricity per kWh
 0 – 200 units = 10.95 cents per kilowatt hour
 Bill = $400 a month
 $4800 a month
 Price of PV system = $11,000
 System will pay itself off in 2.29 years

18. CASE STUDY - TOKELAU
Tokelau natives response to BHP Billiton claim of coal being the answer to poverty: courtesy of

19. CASE STUDY - TOKELAU
 Island in the South Pacific
 Population – 1500
 Received 7 million funding from New
Zealand for installations
 100% powered by solar energy
 Resorts to coconut oil during cloudy days
 Generates 150% of total demand for island

20. TOKELAU – PAVING THE WAY FORWARD
 Serves as a model for island nations for the use
of hybrid micro-grids
 By switching to renewable energy:
 reduced their reliance on imported fuels,
 kept money in the local economy,
 provided their residents with reliable power, and
lower their carbon emissions.
 serves as “test beds” for adoption of new
technologies and models of what can happen on a
larger scale.

21. IMPLEMENTATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC POWER
GENERATION
 There are three was in which PV power can
be implemented (BEST Commission)
 Building Integrated Photovoltaic Cells
 Confined to rooftops/ building facade
 Green Field Power Plants
 Up to 8-9 hectares
 Solar Parks
 Up to 100 hectares
 Will explore the implementation of each in Out
Islands, New Providence and Grand Bahama

22. POWERING THE OUT ISLANDS
Dock at Governor’s Harbour Eleuthera: Courtesy of Matt

23. THE OUT ISLANDS
 Accounts for approx. 15% of the Bahamian
population (Census 2010)
 Accounts for approx. 30% of BEC’s load
 Population ranges for each island is as high as
17,000 to as low as 100 persons
 As a result, demand on electrical grid is
relatively low
 Possibility of utilizing solar parks and green
fields to power the out islands 100%
 Reduces peak load percentage of BEC to 58%

24. UTILIZING SOLAR PARKS/ GREEN FIELDS
Advantages Disadvantages
Clean Energy Land Mass Availability
Low Maintenance Expense
Reduction of Diesel
Plants/ Usage/ GH
Gas Emissions
Inconsistent
Lower fuel Surcharge Large Scale
Environmental Impact

25. SITE SELECTIONS FOR GREEN FIELDS/ SOLAR
PARKS
 Small population
 Small load on electrical grid
 Available land
 Solar irradiance

26. INTRODUCTION OF SOLAR PARKS AND GREEN
FIELDS TO THE OUT ISLANDS
 Peak Load for New Providence = 254
 Projected for Bahamas (BEC) = 359
 Load for Out Island = 105 MW
 Total Peak Load – Peak Load (NP) = Peak Load
(OI)
 359 – 254 = 105 MW
 29.24% of BEC’s peak load

27. POPULATION USAGE FACTORS
248,948
, 70%
51,756,
15%
52,954,
15%
Bahamas Population
2010 Census
New
Providence
Grand
Bahama
Out Islands
254,
59%74,
17%
105,
24%
Peak Load Per Island
(MW)

28. DEMAND IN LESS POPULATED OUT ISLANDS
 Correlation of population to peak load =
0.988
 Used calculated correlation to determine the
peak load in the following islands
 Can determine the ability of an island to fully
convert to solar energy in the form of solar
parks once peak demand does not exceed
58 MW
 Ensures efficiency of the system

29. BAHAMAS POPULATION AND PEAK LOAD
CALCULATION
Island Population (2010
census)
Peak Load
(MW)
Rum Cay 99 45.6
Mayaguana 271 45.8
Crooked Island 323 45.9
Acklins 560 46.1
Berry Islands 798 46.3
San Salvador 930 46.4
Spanish Wells 1537 46.9
Harbour Island 1702 47.0
Bimini 2008 47.3
Andros 7386 51.8
Eleuthera 7826 52.1
Abaco 16692 59.8

30. APPLICATION OF SOLAR FIELDS
 100 kwp blocks used
 Performance prediction (BEST) for FS-275
module
 Thin film module
 Fixed Mounting
 Performance ratio = 86.7%
 Energy Produced = 185 MWh year
 Approx 176% of capacity of the Out Islands

31. TABLE SHOWING POTENTIAL ANNUAL YIELD FOR
9 ISLANDS
Island
Available
Land for
open field
power plant
(ha)
Technical
Capacity
(MW)
Structural
capacity
(MW)
Annual Yield
(MWh/a)
Abaco 9357 4678 30.48 52730
Acklins-
Crooked Island 3 2 1.04 1799
Andros 1570 785 7.32 12664
Eleuthera 1306 653 13.96 24151
Exuma Cays 109 54 10.67 18459
Grand Bahama 185 92 92.35 159758
Inagua 14 7 - -
Mayaguana 2 1 0.31 536
New
Providence 1206 603 315.20 545296Technical Capacity: land = 1MW: 2 hectares

32. LIMITATIONS AND SOLUTIONS
 Land availability
 1 hectare required for 1 MW of power
 i.e. 20 MW = 20 hectares = 50 acres
 Can pose a problem for islands with larger
populations and limited available land space
 Resolution: Can link solar parks to existing grid to
compensate for shortages
 Resolution: Integrate biaxial tracking system instead
of single axis tracking on smaller islands
 Resolution: Introduce building integrated systems to
reduce the use of land space

33. LIMITATIONS AND SOLUTIONS CONTD.
 Area related risk
 Equipment may be at risk for damages,
especially during the hurricane season
 Resolution: to minimize damages,
reinforcements such as steel beam foundation
and reinforcement may be used

34. POWERING THE URBANIZED AREAS
Freeport Harbour, Freeport Grand Bahama: Courtesy of the_bahamas.net

35. DEMAND IN NEW PROVIDENCE AND GRAND
BAHAMA
 Accounts for 85% of the population of the
Bahamas (Population Census 2010)
 Heavy demand, due to growing population,
tourist population arrivals and industrial
activity
 Insufficient space and available power to
construct small scale green fields
 Frequent blackouts as a result of capacity
overload

36. UTILIZING PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS
 Rooftops of facades of buildings can be
outfitted with photovoltaic cells
 Can be connected to existing grid (grid tied)
 Already implemented by hotels, businesses
and home owners
 Negligible operational environmental impact
 Vendors exist – standard 4kwp system
 price ranges between $8500 and $11,000

37. UTILIZING PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS CONTD.
 Success and electricity generation heavily
dependent on sunshine climatic data
 Examples: The United Kingdom
 Scotland
 3.61 hours of average daily sunshine
 4kwp system can generate 3200 kwh a year
 Northern Ireland
 3.45 hours of average daily sunshine
 4kwp system can generate 3,400 kwh a year.
 South England
 4.42 hours of average daily sunshine
 4kwp system can generate 3800 kwh a year

38. CALCULATING POWER GENERATED USING
SUNSHINE CLIMATE DATA
 Climate data of Grand Bahama and New
Providence obtained
 Correlation calculated using UK values for
average daily sunshine and power generated
from 4kwp systems
 Calculation of power generated by 4kwp
system in both New Providence and Grand
Bahama

39. CLIMATE DATA – AVERAGE SUNSHINE DATA
1981-2010
Mont
h
Average Daily
Sunshine Freeport
(hours)
Average Daily
Sunshine New
Providence (hours)
Jan 7 7.3
Feb 7.6 8
Mar 8.1 8.4
Apr 9.1 9.4
May 9.1 9
Jun 7.8 7.9
Jul 8.3 8.5
Aug 8.1 8.4
Sep 7 7.4
Oct 7.6 7.6
Nov 7.2 7.3
Dec 6.7 6.8

40. CLIMATE DATA – GRAPHICAL REPRESENTATION
0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Hours
Climat Data For Sunshine 1981-2010
Average Daily
Sunshine
Freeport (hours
Average Daily
Sunshine New
Providence
(hours)

41. CALCULATIONS
 Correlation = 0.88
 Average sunlight hours: energy generated
 New Providence; 7.975: 5619.32 kwh per annum
 Grand Bahama; 7.700: 5476.6 kwh per annum
 Average energy consumption per capita = 7500 kwh
per annum
 664,588 MWh per year (entire Bahamas)
 Building integrated PV modules
 Up to 10 Kwh – Residential Homes (up to 2 –4 kWp systems)
 Up to 1 Mwh – Large commercial/public building (up to 200
4-kwp systems)

42. LIMITATIONS AND SOLUTIONS
 Monetary expenses for initial purchase and
installation
 Resolution: governmental subsidies ie. reduction of tariffs
for import, feed in tariffs at government level, duty free
items, compensation for excess power to feed the grid
(offsets demand)
 Receive finding from international bodies
 Insufficient power from cells in larger homes and
businesses and due to limited sunshine in less sunny
months. (below average)
 Resolution: Compensate by educating public on
conservation techniques, invest in larger system, access
power into grid

43. GOALS AND ACTION PLANS
China’s largest concentrated solar power plant: Courtesy of EVWind

44. GOALS
 Reduce the consumption of fossil fuels to
65% by the year 2030
 Construct solar parks with capacity of 20MW
or less, removing them from the electrical
grid.
 Increase accessibility and affordability of
photo voltaic cells to the general public
 Increase incentives and awareness of the
benefits of solar power to the general public

45. ACTION PLAN
 Replace Out Island power plants with photo voltaic
plants
 Out Fit government buildings with photo voltaic cells
 Education of the public in utilizing energy efficient
appliances
 Grant incentives for homeowners to purchase and
outfit homes with solar panels
 Lower the import duty on photo voltaic cells
 Introduce subsidies geared towards the solar power
industry

46. REFERENCES
 Department of Statistics; “PERCENTAGE DISTRIBUTION OF POPULATION BY ISLAND 2000 AND 2010 CENSUSES”. The
Bahamas Government; May 2011. http://statistics.bahamas.gov.bs/download/082103200.pdf
(Accessed 10/25/15)
 Energy Savings Plus; Solar Panels,” Last updated, September 2014 http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/domestic/solar-panels
(Accessed 10/27/2015)
 Guevara-Stone, L. An Island (Tokelau) Powered 100% By Solar Energy, The Rocky Mountain institute. October 6th, 2013
http://cleantechnica.com/2013/10/06/an-island-tokelau-powered-100-by-solar-energy/
(Accessed 10/30/2015)
 Hartnell, Neil; “Bahamas Fails To Enact 27% Energy Demand Cut Plan“ The Tribune, Nassau Bahamas; December 11th ,
201http://www.tribune242.com/news/2013/dec/11/bahamas-fails-enact-27-energy-demand-cut-plan/
(Accessed 10/25/15)
 Maura, S.; Climatic Data for annual average Sunshine by Month. 1981-2010, Bahamas Department of Meteorology; Date
retrieved October 24th, 2015
 Ministry of the Environment and Housing; Ministry of Works and Urban Development: “The Bahamas National Energy Policy
2013-2033” http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/uploads/16/energypolicy.pdf
(Accessed 10/21/15)
 Organization of American States; National Renewable Energy Laboratory, “Energy Policy and Analysis in the Caribbean 2010-
2011”. May 2012 http://www.ecpamericas.org/data/files/Initiatives/lccc_caribbean/LCCC_Report_Final_May2012.pdf
(Accessed 10/25/15)
 Public Interest Energy Research Program (PIER) “Potential Health and Environmental Impacts Associated With the
Manufacture and Use of Photovoltaic Cells” November 2003, http://www.energy.ca.gov/reports/500-04-053.PDF
(Accessed 10/25/15)
 Solar Tribune; “4000 Watt Solar kits,”.http://solartribune.com/solar-kits/4000-watt/
(Accessed 10/31/15)
 The BEST Commission; Promoting Sustainable Energy in the Bahamas; The Bahamas Government; September 2010,
http://www.best.bs/webdocs/1016_finalreport.pdf
(Accessed 10/25/15)
 The union of concerned scientists;. “Environmental Impacts of Solar Power” Last Revised: March 5th, 2013
www.ucsusa.org/clean_energy/our-energy-choices/renewable-energy/environmental-impacts-solar-power.htmlThink Global Green
Organization; Solar Power, http://www.thinkglobalgreen.org/solar.html
Accessed 10/31/15)