Enertis Applus+ Consults BMR Energy on 6.4-Megawatt Project in the U.S. Virgin Islands

Enertis Applus+, a leading global consulting and engineering firm in the renewable energy sector and storage solutions, consults BMR Energy on Donoe Solar, a 6.4-megawatt project in the U.S. Virgin Islands. The facility is expected to be completed and enter service in the fourth quarter of this year and will sell the power it generates to the Virgin Island Power and Water Authority (VIWAPA) under a newly negotiated 25-year Power Purchase Agreement.

The facility will be constructed on the site of a former solar facility that experienced significant damage during the devastating 2017 hurricane season. BMR agreed to acquire the site of the original solar farm in 2019 and closed on that purchase in the summer of 2020. The new facility incorporates several designs and construction features to increase the strength and resilience of the equipment to withstand future windstorms.

The Solar farm will include more than 14,000 photovoltaic modules and has been designed with strengthened racking, foundations, and module connection systems to withstand wind speeds up to 180 mph.

“After Hurricane Irma destroyed the plant nearly four years ago, our team was eager to fully understand the failures of the prior design and installation and build it back stronger,” said Bruce Levy, CEO of BMR Energy. “We’ve considered design recommendations from experts throughout the industry and conducted wind tunnel tests on all systems and equipment. With this resilient design, the facility will be able to deliver reliable, clean energy to the local community for decades to come.”

“WAPA welcomes the opportunity to enter another partnership with BMR Energy as we endeavor to diversify our generation mix. While this agreement increases the volume of solar energy we capture for electrical generation, this and other renewable projects set WAPA on a path to lower operating costs and reduced reliance on fossil fuels. These reductions will ultimately translate to savings for our customers,” said Interim Executive Director / CEO Noel Hodge.

This will be the second project BMR Energy will operate to provide electricity for the utility.