In my last blog post https://newlo2020.edublogs.org/2020/02/20/newlo-a-pacesett…n-grenada-part-2/ on NEWLO as a pacesetter in Skills Training in Grenada, I ended the post with the commissioning of our new Hospitality Centre at Palmiste.
Renewal Energy @ NEWLO
In this new post, I am beginning a new series on the Achievements and Success Stories from NEWLO. This first part focuses on one of the biggest milestones for the institution in recent years. The construction of a Solar facility at the main centre at Palmiste, St. John.
NEWLO as a non-profit, non-government organization has been facing challenges in funding its high energy cost. The energy cost for the operation of the institution has been extremely high over the past years due to the tools and high energy consumption equipment for the skills training programmes. In 2014, 2015 and 2016, the annual electricity cost to the institution was approximately US$22,000, US$20,000 and US$21,000 respectively.
Additionally, NEWLO recently became the recipient of a new hospitality arts facility sponsored by the Maria Holder Memorial Trust in Barbados. The yearly electricity cost of the new facility alone was about US$10,000 This seriously affected NEWLO’s ability to enhance its programme as a huge amount of non-existing funds were spent every year on electricity bills.
At the beginning of 2017, NEWLO approached the Global Environmental Facility (GEF) seeking funding for the construction of a solar energy facility at the centre at Palmiste. One of the conditions for the approval of the project was the re-wiring of the all the buildings at Palmiste, the fixing of energy efficient lights and fixtures, re-location and upgrading of old metres and the upgrading of the main transformer to be able to accommodate a solar energy system. With those conditions fully satisfied, GEF made a huge commitment in assisting with funds for the solar energy project for NEWLO.
The system is fully completed and is generating about 100 kw of renewable energy for the operations of NEWLO at Palmiste. If the system functions at its maximum capacity, it could also serve as a source of income for NEWLO as the excess energy generated is sold to the Grenada Electricity Company (GRENLEC). Currently, NEWLO pays just about one third of its original electricity usage.
Below is the video of the launch of the completed project thanks to GIS
It is hoped that with upcoming changes in the use of renewal energy in Grenada, NEWLO will be able to completely rely 100% on the energy generated from the solar system before transferring the unused energy to GRENLEC. This will cut off any more money paid to GRENLEC.
That is the dream!
That is the future of Renewal Energy we look forward to at NEWLO.
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Thank you so much.