The Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum 2019 Industry Awards Ceremony gave BMR Energy an award for Best Resilience Project for its Spanish Town Estate Solar Restoration Project. The project, located on St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands, was recognized for setting a precedent for resilient, renewable energy infrastructure rehabilitation and development in the region. BMR Energy, a Virgin Group investment, is a developer, owner and operator of clean energy projects in the Caribbean and Latin America.
The solar farm has been in operation since 2015, but it experienced significant damage after hurricanes Irma and Maria. The plant’s electrical equipment, including the inverters, suffered extreme water damage after a roof fan of the structure housing the equipment blew out during the hurricane. Other electronic equipment and many solar modules were severely damaged during a static surge.
BMR Energy purchased the damaged facility in order to restore it back to full operation. The team also established new storm preparedness operating procedures to regularly check grounding systems, in preparation for future static surges. BMR Energy returned the Spanish Town Estate to full operation in November. It produces up to 4 mw of clean energy—enough to power 1,600 homes on St. Croix.
“We are honored to be recognized for this award and are hopeful that it represents a shift in our industry to emphasize the importance of building systems for the worst-case-scenario,” said Bruce Levy, CEO of BMR Energy. “We hope that this project can serve as an example for other projects in the Caribbean, a region that is on the front lines of increasingly severe and frequent hurricanes and tropical storms.”
New Energy Events, the organizers of The Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum, developed the awards to acknowledge the Caribbean energy leaders who are making a lasting impact on the region’s renewable energy landscape.
About BMR Energy
BMR Energy, a Virgin Group investment, is a developer, owner and operator of clean energy projects in the Caribbean and Latin America. BMR Energy’s solution-minded team brings its industry expertise to efficiently executing projects that deliver affordable, sustainable energy generation. For more information, visit www.bmrenergy.com.
About Virgin Group
Virgin is a leading international investment group and one of the world’s most recognized and respected brands. Conceived in 1970 by Sir Richard Branson, the Virgin Group has gone on to grow successful businesses in sectors including mobile telephony, travel and transportation, financial services, leisure and entertainment, and health and wellness.
