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    Battery Energy system will enable Solar Microgrid to ditch diesel gen-sets at Belize resort

    July 22, 2022
    The addition of the On Energy long-term batteries will enable the Turtle Island microgrid to store solar-generated electricity for times when the sun is not shining. Its “On Command” software will provide automatic operation and remote monitoring
    Image credit Wyndham
    Wyndham Turtle Island 62db0d42320bc

    The microgrid for a remote beach resort off the coast of Belize will switch out its diesel powered generation backup for battery energy storage as it transitions to lower carbon emissions.

    On Energy was selected to deliver and operate the battery energy storage and energy management systems for the isolated microgrid at the Turtle Island Beach Resort near San Pedro. The company will partner with Solar Axiom to provide resiliency for the solar energy and help push the Turtle Island microgrid to 100 percent renewable energy.

    "Adding a BESS to our existing solar system completes the 100 percent renewable energy loop in the microgrid for this isolated resort,” said Elio Muller, president of Solar Axiom. “Thanks to On.Energy, by integrating energy storage to our existing solar, we are demonstrating our commitment to make solar energy happen where it would not otherwise occur," said Elio Muller, President of Solar Axiom LLC, a leading developer in commercial and industrial solar energy systems in the Caribbean, with a focus on the resort industry and isolated islands.”

    The addition of the On Energy long-term batteries will enable Turtle Island to store solar-generated electricity for times when the sun is not shining. Its “On Command” software will provide automatic operation and remote monitoring for keeping the system running.

    By ceasing the use of its previously needed diesel backup generators, Turtle Island Beach Resort will also cease to incur high fuel and O&M costs while reducing its carbon emissions.

    "This sets the climate-sensitive mandate for our current expansion plans on Turtle Island Beach Resort. It further demonstrates our commitment to a climate-friendly experience for our guests and support for the Belize Green Economy," said Jeremy Meighan, President of Turtle Island Beach Resorts (Castle Capital Development LTD).

    Turtle Island Beach resort is part of Wyndham Hospitality.

    The government of Belize has set clean energy goals, but remains a net exporter of electricity from Mexico, according to the International Trade Association page. Belize has installed solar microgrids and solar powered streetlights in rural communities not yet served by the national grid and will continue that program at least through this year, according to reports.

    Belize was ranked as 10th among the most popular tourist destinations in Central and South America by U.S. News and World Report.

    About the Author

    EnergyTech Staff

    Rod Walton is senior editor for EnergyTech.com. He has spent 14 years covering the energy industry as a newspaper and trade journalist.

    Walton formerly was energy writer and business editor at the Tulsa World. Later, he spent six years covering the electricity power sector for Pennwell and Clarion Events. He joined Endeavor and EnergyTech in November 2021.

    He can be reached at [email protected]. 

    EnergyTech is focused on the mission critical and large-scale energy users and their sustainability and resiliency goals. These include the commercial and industrial sectors, as well as the military, universities, data centers and microgrids.

    Many large-scale energy users such as Fortune 500 companies, and mission-critical users such as military bases, universities, healthcare facilities, public safety and data centers, shifting their energy priorities to reach net-zero carbon goals within the coming decades. These include plans for renewable energy power purchase agreements, but also on-site resiliency projects such as microgrids, combined heat and power, rooftop solar, energy storage, digitalization and building efficiency upgrades.