Tandose Sambo
Case Western Reserve University - Weatherhead School of Management
Chris Laszlo
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The V.C. Bird International Airport is a pioneering sustainable Caribbean airport. They are the perfect example of embedding sustainability into organizational operations. The airport recently was upgraded to a 23,000 sq ft state of the art facility, with a solar plant that contributes to independent power generation. The country has earned itself reduced carbon consumption of 3,019.5 tonnes per annum.
This article focuses on the photo-voltaic solar panel installation and solar storage solutions installed at the V.C. Bird International Airport in Antigua and Barbuda. Antigua and Barbuda is a twin island pair in the Eastern Caribbean. The country's government has committed to reducing dependence on non-renewable sources of energy. Diesel is a costly resource utilized in baseline electricity generation. Targeting a major consumer of electricity, the V.C. Bird International Airport, formed a synergistic partnership with UK-based P.V. Energy Limited. The project is a joint venture facilitated by the Antigua and Barbuda Coalition of Service Industries. The innovation patents are owned by P.V. Energy Ltd.
This action is the first in a series of renewable energy solution implementations across the islands. The partnership is expected to facilitate the development of photovoltaic installations at various locations inclusive of the airport, which will provide a total power generation capacity of 10MWp, upon completion of all the project components.
The first installment of the project was the commissioning of a 3MWp photovoltaic ground mounted installation, featured on the airport's south west grounds, covering an area of 3.86 hectares. The solar panel field installation, consisting of high-performance polycrystalline solar modules, is featured in the pictures attached to this story. Careful consideration of minimizing glare to arriving or departing aircraft, was considered in the system design.
The current photovoltaic installation facilitates 4,645 MWh power generation per year. Environmental benefits include the saving of 3,019.5 tonnes of CO2 emissions per annum. The energy benefits have proven themselves to have a net positive impact. During daylight hours, minimal power purchase is needed as trim for the airport's needs. Storage capabilities facilitate electricity discharge during the nights or during periods of high cloud cover. The system is fully optimized in its initial installation phases. As further expansion continues, the operation will be fully net positive.
The government of Antigua and Barbuda is dedicated to improving the energy efficiency of the country. Their actions are in tune with the UN Sustainability Global Goals. Via detailed research, one of the key focus areas identified as an opportunity was the reduction of diesel as a means for power generation in the island. Based on the latitude of the islands, sunshine is prevalent year round. The resultant optimal solution for reducing diesel consumption was the implementation of photo-voltaic solar panels to capture the renewable solar energy that is present in abundance.
Following the solution came the application of the idea. The V.C. Bird International Airport was chosen as an ideal site for the solar panel installation. The project was facilitated by partnerships established via the Antigua and Barbuda Coalition of Service Industries (ABCSI). Julianne Jarvis, the article interviewee, was instrumental in establishing the coalition that facilitated the conversion of the airport to its current condition. According to Jarvis “ABCSI was a support system, underpinned by policies, developed to facilitate business evolution from simple local trade, to the international arena.”
As a platform for change, the ABCSI enabled the government's vision for betterment of the country's green energy status to be executed by local enterprises during the building of the new airport facilities. Original design was facilitated by P.V. Energy Limited. While the article focuses in depth on the innovation itself, other UN Global Goal criteria were fulfilled during the project execution, commissioning and operation. The project execution process fulfilled the UN Global criteria of partnerships in action.
The overall impact of this exercise is a Net-Positive Environmental Impact due to the establishing of power generation and storage facilities at the V.C. Bird International Airport. Caribbean countries are blessed with excess sunshine, and the photovoltaic cell commissioning is facilitating the attainment of near total power grid independence. Once the expansions are concluded, the airport will be fully independent of non-renewal diesel for power generation. This is a pioneering step in a region that is dubbed as third-word. Via global partnerships, Antigua and Barbuda is managing to wean itself from fossil fuel consumption and stabilize the operations of one its largest energy consumers. This one step towards reducing the country's carbon footprint.
The primary business benefit to be gained is solar sustainability for years to come. The system readily pays for itself via the utilization of both generation and storage capability. Minimal power purchase is necessary at the current installation generation level of 3 MWp.
With a savings of 3,019.5 tonnes of carbon dioxide per year, annual cost savings of approximately $40,000 worth of carbon credits per year are naturally accrued. When the 10 MWp per annum is achieved this number will triple to a minimum of $120,000 per annum in carbon credits saved by the country. This exercise is proving itself be both profitable to the airport operations, and beneficial to the environment.
The installation of the solar facility at the V.C. Bird International Airport has enabled the project initiative to fulfil eight of the UN Global Goals.
Affordable and Clean Energy is the first criteria that the initiative addresses. Diesel was the original fuel source used by the country to provide electrical power to the airport facility. Due to the nature of airport operation, which is a twenty four hour business, considerable amounts of electricity are needed for normal operation. Power generation utilizing diesel requires combustion of diesel in powerhouse boilers, a process which releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. Carbon Dioxide is a known greenhouse gas that enhances global warming. If the powerhouse boiler processes are not carefully monitored, incomplete diesel combustion can result, generating toxic carbon monoxide. The solar plant photovoltaic cells simply absorb solar rays and via various electrical mechanisms, convert the sun's energy into electricity. They automatically bypass both processes which are detrimental to the health of the atmosphere.
Decent Work and Economic Growth will be accomplished via improved access to technology. Local personnel were utilized in the construction of phase one of the solar initiative. Additional power generation capacity remains to be added to the solar facility. Local personnel will also be utilized in the project execution.
Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure will be impacted via the evolution of power generation in Antigua and Barbuda, from traditional diesel combustion processes, to clean direct solar energy capture via photovoltaic cells.
Reduced inequalities as a side effect of the economic benefits, to be accrued from the project. As government funds are diverted from funding fuel costs, the money can be more efficiently diverted to educating people in the country or establishing new profitable industries.
Sustainable Cities and Communities, Responsible Consumption and Production will be the aftermath of the extensive deployment of the solar facility. The system has the capability to both generate and store electrical power, resulting in less dependence on diesel and complete self reliance based on free solar energy.
Climate Action is a downstream effect of the solar plant commissioning and operation. With a reported 3,019.5 tonne carbon reduction, the atmosphere in the islands will be cleaner.
Finally, no project of this scale is complete without great partnerships. Partnerships for the goals is the ultimate UN Goal fulfilled in this initiative that facilitated the execution of the previous seven objectives. The involvement of Government, local and foreign entities in the accomplishments of a goal are noteworthy.
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Julianne Jarvis, Project Management Consultant
