The Engine Room - Vol 1 Issue 4 - Sep to Nov 2022

Barbados Umaizi Project

E d i t o r i a l

Definition of crisis (Oxford Dictionary): a time of great danger, difficulty or doubt when problems must be solved or important decisions must be made

We have heard the term “ energy crisis” mentioned several times in the recent past. This should not only give us pause, but force us into reflection, discussion and then urgent action

Since the industrial revolution, energy has pushed itself nearly to the peak of importance for the human race, perhaps only behind food security From basic coal mining to nuclear power plants, the activities and components of energy transformation and distribution have served our race for several decades

Technology has increased exponentially due to the ease at which energy, in one form or the next, can be accessed.

Certainly in Barbados, it was only a few decades ago (1950s) that a vast majority of the population used kerosene lamps and larders to provide basic lighting and refrigeration needs Compared to today, where the descendants of those aforementioned Barbadians can have their own residential electric supply, rooftopinstalled photovoltaic panels, and even an electric car

Of course, with progress and development, we expect benefits and value, but there is always the other side - costs and disadvantages. With the requirement for electricity/energy comes a dependence on oil, which, not being available to Barbados in abundance, means that a dependency on the external market is created

Globally, the demand for oil and fuel has been a major contributor to geopolitical jostling over the last 40 years, and has also created a climate change crisis that has depleted our ozone layer, increased greenhouse-gases and carbon emissions; and resulted in rising global temperatures and increased catastrophic hazard events such as hurricanes, floods and fires.

This fuels the fire of the global debate of whether economic growth (and development) is a zero-sum game (i e the costs cancel out the benefits attained), particularly when sustainability is added as a measurement index.

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O u r E n e r g y C r i s i s

This has created the need for thinking beyond the conventional mode of power generation and distribution and resulted in the creation of alternative energy sources such as renewables - tapping into natural sources such as the sun (solar and photovoltaic), hydro (water power), wind, and many others.

We have seen the problems in Spain where several years ago they had a very ambitious plan to boost the amount of solar energy generated. That plan fell flat and went sour quite quickly. In summary, their government paid out subsidies of € 2 6 Billion to the solar pv industry alone (which it barely could afford to do), and forced utility firms to keep their under-utilized coal and gas plants operational and on “standby” for times when the “wind stops blowing” or at night “when solar does not generate” This in turn caused a major controversy between the solar pv lobby and the powerful utility companies. Due to the subsidy, the solar pv companies were able to cut costs quickly (about 70%) and investors, seeing excellent returns-oninvestment, came flooding in This left Spain with 10 times the amount of solar pv capacity than the government had planned for and a much bigger bill than it had envisioned The result? A major slash in the government subsidy - causing investor uncertainty, affecting the pay-back potential of the projects, causing approximately 62,000 people to go bankrupt, intiating massive job losses in the solar pv sector, etc

Even in Australia, the UK and several other countries in Europe, the issue has morphed into a “crisis”

So, of course the matter is a complex one.

At home, we have a locally-drafted Barbados National Energy Policy (2019 to 2030) which is visionary in its intent, now requires an urgent in-depth review by all stakeholders, with a view to update, augment and re-focus, particularly as it relates to recently-past global events such as the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, procurement and supply

chain issues (logistics and rising manufacturing and transportation costs), the impact of the Russo-Ukraine war, etc.

Certainly, Barbados, as a small island developing state (SIDS), must take energy seriously, due to its lack (absence) of generous oil reserves, its developing status and development goals, its inherent vulnerability to hurricanes due to its geographical position, its resiliency factor (i.e., its ability to bounce-back and return to “normal” after encountering a hazardous event), its sensitivity to increases in consumer energy-costs (which lend to inflation and a higher cost of living, resulting in a dampening of economic growth and the creation of other negative issues) and its demand for energy consumption by its population.

A careful mix of conventional and renewable energy sources must now be designed and implemented to ensure that the population is served reliably on a sustainable basis

The Engine Room is the resurgent enewsletter of the Barbados Association of Professional Engineers (BAPE). Its goals include providing interesting and informative articles to its readership, as well as giving a voice to those who wish to contribute. A ship’s engine room is the place where the input is converted to its output, thus giving it power to travel to its destination; and this e-newsletter draws inspiration from this analogy - a driving force for our society. To create a space for engineers and others to debate, to opine, to share ideas and to collaborate for the better of engineering and the wider society, for this generation and for future generations to come.

Introduction of The Engine Room

E D I T O R I A L T E A M

Editor

Layout and Design - Lead Eng. Kenton Gamble, BSc., MBAPE, GMICE

Reach us at bapenewsletter@gmail com

Eng. Rey Moe, BSc., MSc., PMP, MCTS, CEng MICE

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Content strategist Mr. Jonathan Brathwaite

Interested in joining the team? Check out our Interaction Section.

I read with interest a front-page article in the Sunday Sun on November 6, 2022 where, quoting the findings of an IDB study, it was revealed that Government stands to lose at least $105 million a year by transitioning to a 100% renewable energy vision by 2030. This certainly got me thinking. The transformation to 100% renewable energy vision is a laudable concept, albeit with aggressive timelines It is also multi-sectoral - involving many stakeholders, both local and foreign. It also involves many disciplines from engineering, law, finance to economics, to name a few In other words, this transformation is huge So, while these losses are mainly due to loss of petroleum-related taxes, which I am sure will be made up for somehow, I considered that, at the very least, it was a start in having stakeholders going into this venture with eyes wide open.

My major concern is that most of the transformation projects that I have seen recently, not excluding energy, have been plagued with implementation challenges and have all suffered as a result, despite impressive marketing. For the most part, they have failed to follow basic project management guidelines including stakeholder consultation and management and having a practical plan of action – orderly steps to achieving that lofty vision. The positives of the vision have been clearly articulated in my opinion However, if the negatives are not addressed, this will quickly derail the project and possibly set it back many years, a prospect no Barbadian will enjoy

Full disclosure to all stakeholders will certainly help in better decision-making.

Taking a look at some of these stakeholders, Government holds accountability for the energy sector and has to find ways to support the sector and, of course, earn from it. Do they understand the expertise required to make this happen and are they prepared to buy it, if not available, to save time and money? The utility and oil & gas industries must retool once they understand clearly what the market will look like Do they? How can an industry do any strategic planning and retooling without having a licence to facilitate long term goals?

The investors, both local and foreign, deserve to know the extent of their commitment Do they invest, sit back and earn as gleaned from the positive messaging, or do they have a part to play in maintaining reliability, for example? Who is accountable for these various tasks during and after the project?

The ratepayers and taxpayers, who are really paying back for this investment - will they see genuine price reductions from this energy transformation as expected, or merely a

change in supplier from oil & gas to renewable energy investors? Will those who cannot afford to invest be able to pay to consume?

Taking a look at the product itself, I notice more solar PV projects in the energy mix mainly due, I believe, to the ease of funding, high returns, and low installation and maintenance costs However, is Barbados aspiring towards an optimal mix of renewable technologies, and if so, when will we embark on other firm and non-firm technologies? In the meantime, when will storage or other mitigations be enforced for intermittent technologies such as solar and wind, which sooner or later in their absence, are likely to cause mayhem on the grid

There are so many more questions than answers, and I can see a glaring information asymmetry among the stakeholders. This needs to be addressed urgently if we are to come near to our vision, without scars So, feeling nationalistic at this time of the year, let us strive to put all our ducks in a row, starting with working together with full disclosure on all sides and get on with the task at hand We all want to achieve our 100% renewable vision

In this Issue

In this issue of The Engine Room, we are delighted to bring to you a number of technical articles touching on the broad topic of Energy. We discuss Distributed Renewable Energy Systems – the what’s, why’s and what next and we touch on the importance of the initiatives of the Cooperatives as they eye investments in the energy sector

In our Fellow Corner, we are proud to highlight our Eng. Vivian-Ann Gittens, who gives us a summary of her life experiences and implores us to continue to be at the forefront of solving problems

Also, we have decided to put a spotlight on one of most innovative projects in Barbados – the Clean Energy Bridge

In the BAPE news section, we are pleased to showcase our Annual Awards & Dinner 2022.

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Fellows' Corner

I entered the St Augustine Campus of the University of the West Indies during September 1969. There was just one other female in that year ’ s cohort which included just over 100 males of those first year students who entered the faculty of Engineering

During the first year of the program at that time there was a general introduction to engineering as a profession After completing the first year, students branched into one of the 4 areas of specialisation offered –chemical; electrical, mechanical or civil engineering

The first year of study covered a range of science, technology and mathematical subjects. The most memorable of those firstyear classes were lectures by a German professor who undertook to present engineering as a profession. He pointed out that an engineer draws on the engineer’s knowledge of science and mathematics to solve problems I clearly recollect him explaining that:

Engineering is an approach to analysing problems that leads to solutions

An engineer considers the problem, considers a full range of options and comes up with cost effective, practical and implementable ideas for improvement

An engineer draws on principles of science and mathematics to design and/or invents useful new products, processes, and systems.

There are currently nineteen (19) Fellows of BAPE, all with significant experience, who have all contributed greatly to the built environment of Barbados, and other countries in the region. They have, without a doubt, been in a position of senior responsibility and/or significant autonomy in their particular field; and influenced policy and strategy-making decisions in either a technical or business environment.

This column is in honor of their sterling service – providing an opportunity for them to contribute articles and be profiled (either their professional career or any interesting projects)

As at the date of this publication, the current Fellows are (in alphabetical order):

Eng Abdul Pandor Eng Andrew Hutchinson Eng Andrew Gittens Eng Bjorn Bjerkham Eng David Lashley Eng Errol Clarke Eng. Frank McConney Eng. Grenville Phillips II Eng. Ken Blackman Eng. Peter Date Eng Peter Simpson Eng Peter Williams Eng Philip Sobers Eng Philip Tudor Eng Ralph Adams Eng Ralph Williams Eng Lt Col Trevor Browne Eng. Tony Gibbs Eng. Vivian-Anne Gittens

My Engineering training has served me well throughout my career

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Most simply put: an engineer solves problems. Throughout my career, my training to approach problems as an engineer has served me well Engineers tend to recognise this approach when it is applied by others who have been similarly trained.

For example, as the world evolves, specialized areas like software engineer; environmental engineer; biomedical engineer and marine engineers have become accepted; each representing the problem-solving approach in the related area of expertise Engineering is required in virtually every aspect of life: there are problems to be solved and suitable products, processes, and systems to be designed and/or invented A suitably trained engineer should never be bored as problems are always evolving

Consider how innovations have contributed to our comfort and safety. How could we manage without our mobile phone? Although we do wish that right after we have bought the latest version available that the innovations would at least slow down!That is just one example of developments that improves personal connection, comfort and safety There is a wealth of opportunities for engineering in every aspect of life Overall, an engineer contributes to improving the quality of life for people by providing progressive solutions and developments

I had chosen Electrical Engineering as my specialty area of study. My area of finer focus was telecommunications rather than the relatively popular electrical power systems However, on graduation, I worked in the Government Electrical Engineer’s Department. There, I had oversight of the inspection of electrical installations for housing and commercial purposes

My next assignment was as an Estimator for an Electrical Engineering firm. There is where I became interested in cost accounting.Based on an undergraduate degree in engineering, it was relatively easy to move onto graduate business studies. Having taken mathematics courses right through to final year in Engineering, the arithmetical model of the general ledger in accounting and finance was readily assimilated

On completion of a graduate degree in Business Administration and certification as an Accountant, I launched into a career in business consulting, accounting and finance, and eventually in Administration However, the learnt approach to problem solving, technical and non-technical, stayed with me all along the way.

Over the years, more women have entered and are entering the engineering field of study.They have built and are building successful careers in their chosen specialist areas In addition, specialisation areas have expanded and continue to expand as the world of science has evolved. Examples of evolving specialisation are engineering in alternate energy, the environment, biomedical science, aerospace and even genetics

Today, specific emphasis is placed on STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, the Arts and Mathematics) in Education, Training and development The forerunner STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) eventually made way for the inclusion of the Arts STEAM recognises that expanding to include the influence of the Arts broadens the scope of possible solution options to be evaluated. Yet, engineering thinking and problem solving remain at the core of developing solutions - including new products, services, systems, and procedures which enhances people’s quality of life

Engineers will always be needed …because engineers solve problems

Distributed Renewable Energy Systems

Synopsis

Distributed energy systems deliver energy to loads located nearby, often to loads located on site In contrast, centralised systems require energy to be transported over networks to consumers. Distributed systems can utilise varied resources, including wind, solar, water and biomass energy They also provide many benefits, including reducing transmission and distribution losses in utility grids.

While currently distributed systems increase the potential for grid instability, particularly at high penetrations, current and emerging technologies point to a future incorporating storage and grid forming inverters in microgrids, providing inertial stability and resilience

What is a Distributed Energy System?

The history of energy production and consumption is largely distributed – energy was produced and consumed where and as needed. A distributed system may be as simple as a wood stove providing heat for cooking and domestic water In these scenarios, minimal infrastructure was required. At the advent of the modern electrical age, this paradigm remained with individual generators powering single buildings or small areas around the generator, but over time electricity systems in highly developed areas transitioned to large networks with centralised electric power plants. These systems take advantage of economies of scale and reduce costs but

require significant distribution infrastructure to deliver the energy produced to the consumers that need it

Unlike early generators, modern distributed energy systems often interface with the electric utility. “Intelligent” energy converters synchronise with the grid’s frequency and export electricity to nearby loads System owners also earn revenue by selling electricity to the utility typically either under net billing[i] or net metering[ii] arrangements, depending on the jurisdiction[iii]

Energy resources used by distributed systems vary by location and include solar photovoltaic, wind, small and micro hydroelectric, and small and micro biomass systems Local rules restrict the type and size of system allowed, along with grid connection interface, operating characteristics and financial returns.

Why Distributed Energy?

Within the past two decades, the cost and availability of renewable energy systems have experienced dramatic price decreases, particularly the cost of solar photovoltaic

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modules and power conversion equipment

Simultaneously, the world has continued to grapple with the impact of climate change and with price instability in the commodity markets, particularly with energy sources like oil and gas As a result, the cost of energy produced from these systems has, in many places, reached grid parity[iv],[v], particularly where production is heavily dependent on relatively expensive diesel fuel

Besides cost benefits, distributed generation can, inter alia:

provide reduced average variability compared to centralised intermittent generation as production capacity spread over a larger area is less likely to experience drastic changes in wind speed and solar irradiance than the same capacity concentrated in one or two places reduce transmission and distribution losses since the closest loads are fed first, reducing (and sometimes reversing) transformer and power line loads. shade roofs and reduce building cooling loads, in the case of roof-mounted solar photovoltaics (PV). take advantage of local biomass and waste sources in smaller quantities be incorporated into and support microgrids and resilient communities[vi]

What’s the Catch?

It’s not all sunshine and rainbows with distributed generation With the low cost of solar photovoltaic and wind systems, these intermittent sources dominate current installation trends in both centralised and distributed systems Loss of light or lower wind speed reduces system output and requires coverage by spinning reserve as the abrupt change can have the same impact as the sudden connection of a large load. Since these sources depend on and are subject to the weather, they are also susceptible to damage by the elements if not adequately designed, specified and installed. System design must also incorporate upgrades to supporting structures, where necessary, to avoid damage and production loss during significant weather events.

The power converters that interface with the grid, also called “grid tie inverters” are “grid following” and do not provide the inertia needed to assist with grid stability Additionally, they are designed to disconnect from the grid during anomalous grid states for utility crew safety. High penetrations of these “grid following” units therefore tend to increase spinning reserve requirements and grid instability in the absence of other interventions.

These challenges are compounded in distributed systems by the lack of a central dispatch control and variations in owner attention to maintenance and operation. However, all is not lost. On-going research in grid-forming inverters provides a window into the future of the grid and luckily, the future appears to be close at hand

Standards[vii] and protocols[viii] for interfaces between distributed sources and the grid continue to be developed and refined and include communication and control. The successful modelling[ix] and operation[x] of microgrids containing solar with storage and without inertial generators[xi] indicate these inverters already effectively exist and may require minimal modification to serve larger power systems.

Summary

While challenges remain, and many installed distributed systems have the potential to contribute to grid instability, current and emerging technologies point to a future dominated by microgrids containing “smart” grid-forming inverters, storage, intermittent renewables, and intelligent energy management systems and, perhaps, without fossil fuels

[i] In net billing, energy consumed at the facility is costed at applicable rates, energy exported is costed separately (often under a different tariff) and the net of the two bills is payable https://osceolaenergy com/guidenet-metering-net-billing/ [ii] In net metering, energy exported is credited at the same rate as energy consumed. This arrangement is typically facilitated by use of a mechanical energy meter which spins backward during energy export https://www seia org/initiatives/netmetering

[iii] In Barbados, net billing applies with regulator-approved feed-in tariffs and rules Visit https://www.blpc.com.bb/index.php/reside ntial/tariffs-and-riders-residential and https://www.blpc.com.bb/index.php/busine ss/tariffs-and-riders-business/energy-rider [iv] An energy source or technology reaches grid parity when the levelized cost of energy (LCOE) produced by that source or technology equals the cost of grid electricity https://www altenergymag com/article/201 2/03/grid-parity/1019/ [v] As at Quarter 4 2021, utility scale solar was one of the most competitive energy sources in the United States of America. https://www.pvmagazine com/2021/11/05/utility-scalesolar-reaches-lcoe-of-0-028-0-041-kwh-inthe-us-lazard-finds/ [vi] One such community, Babcock Ranch, successfully survived a recent hit by a category 4 hurricane. https://www.npr.org/2022/10/05/11269003 40/florida-community-designed-weatherhurricane-ian-babcock-ranch-solar [vii] IEEE 1547-2018 IEEE Standard for Interconnection and Interoperability of Distributed Energy Resources with Associated Electric Power Systems Interfaces https://standards ieee org/ieee/1547/5915/ [viii] 2030 5-2018 - IEEE Standard for Smart Energy Profile Application Protocol https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/8608 044

[ix] New model for grid-forming inverter operation https://www.pvmagazine.com/2022/06/08/new-modelfor-grid-forming-inverter-operation/

[x] Florida Power and Light at Babcock Ranch https://www fpl com/landing/babcockranch.html

[xi] Hurricane Ian barely affects solar community in Florida https://www pvmagazine.com/2022/10/10/hurricaneian-barely-affects-solar-community-inflorida/

Co-operatives Eyeing Investments in Energy

One of the quiet success stories in Barbados has been the growth of the Co-operative sector, and particularly of the financial cooperative sector, led by the Credit Unions. From modest beginnings with passbooks and weekly business sessions in the early 1990’s, this Movement has grown to a multi-billion dollar collection of operations, that now control assets approaching $3 Billion and total membership representing some 75% of all adult citizens

Obviously there has been significant pressure placed on the Movement to move some of its assets into productive enterprises Unfortunately, a number of legislative restrictions which have traditionally prevented overt investments by the Credit Union directly into such ventures remain in place long after concerns about the adequacy of management skills at the time would have led to such restrictions, in the interest of protecting members’ deposits.

Credit Unions are for example, not allowed to invest in productive businesses, and even investments in other cooperatives are highly regulated and restrictive in 2022.

In the early 1990’s, Credit Unions created their own general insurance company, Cooperators General Insurance Co Ltd. The outstanding performance of this company in the general insurance field over the past 30 years is testimony to the great potential that exists for other similar cooperative enterprises

In 2019, the Government of Barbados adopted the Barbados National Energy Policy 20192030 (BNEP) This policy outlines a brilliant vision of energy transformation for Barbados, and includes a full move from fossil fuels to sustainable energy sources such as wind, solar, bio fuels etc It also mandates the deliberate inclusion of local participation at all levels of the new energy framework

The Cooperative Movement was invited to participate in a number of stakeholder consultations on the BNEP, and have since fully endorsed the Government’s energy policy. The Movement has subsequently come together to create a special national energy co-operative, specifically to focus the Movement’s interest in the new energy structure for Barbados.

As a result, the Barbados Sustainable Energy Co-operative Society Limited (also registered as ‘CoopEnergy Barbados’) was registered on 6 June 2020.

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The objectives of CoopEnergy are to: 1. 2. 3 4.

Support the successful rollout of the BNEP Invest in the new sustainable energy business on behalf of all citizens

Facilitate cooperatives involvement in the new energy structure

Promote local ownership in energyparticularly co-operative ownership.

Membership in the new society is open to any person who is a citizen or resident of Barbados and who possess a valid passport or Identity Card. This includes Barbadians in the Diaspora

Membership is also open to other local institutions who qualify and all Co-operative Societies in Barbados are eligible for full membership

Since its inception, CoopEnergy has been familiarizing itself with the complex intricacies of the local energy market. We have been fortunate to have had persons with extensive experience in co-operatives, engineering, accounting and legal affairs on the Board of Directors, and on other committees. These resources have accelerated our learning curve significantly CoopEnergy is committed to the successful outcome of government’s energy policy. Such an outcome presents the very best opportunity for sustainable, long-term investment benefits for co-operatives and for citizens, and of course, it offers safe, reliable, and affordable electricity service to citizens.

To this end, we have established relationships with the Ministry of Energy, The Fair Trading Commission, and many of the various local and international players in the local market. The objective of the energy co-op is to fill that role of representing the local interest of citizens in all major energy undertakings under the BNEP initiative.

CoopEnergy is therefore actively pursuing investments in major renewable energy projects with major players in the market; we are partnering with local electric / hybrid vehicle importers, and we are also actively interested in opportunities to invest in key utility infrastructure up to and including including the Utility company.

In October 2021, The Barbados Light & Power submitted an application to the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) for an increase in customer rates for electricity services. The last previous increase was granted in 2010.

A number of our members requested that the energy co-op assume a role as Intervenor in the process, as part of our mandate to represent citizens in the new energy transformation CoopEnergy’s application for Intervenor status was accepted in December 2021

Our subsequent review of the information provided by BL&P in their application has reinforced our commitment to become more involved in this sector for two key reasons:

To benefit from the very attractive investment returns available

To bring much needed balance, and to ensure that the interests of ordinary citizens are given due consideration when decisions about energy are being taken at the highest levels.

Energy is set to become an issue of major global concern as fuel prices seem about to skyrocket across the world following the Ukraine war in Europe. The local situation is no less complex

In addition to (1) the radical change planned in Government’s BNEP 2019-2030, (2) the expectation of rising costs to customers, and (3) the matter of licenses for energy providers, there is the challenge of finding foreign exchange to facilitate ongoing operations.

Local customers can expect to see challenging times ahead

This is all the more reason why the Cooperative Movement must therefore position itself to provide maximum support to our membership in this increasingly chaotic energy market.

Through CoopEnergy, the Barbados Co-op Movement is well on the way to meeting this requirement

All Co-op members should support this cooperative energy initiative

Project Spotlight

BACKGROUND

The Clean Energy Bridge (CEB) is The Barbados Light & Power Company’s new 33 MW Medium Speed Diesel generation station at Trents, St. Lucy. Commercial operation commenced on June 28, 2022 after two (2) years of construction

The CEB will provide reliable base load generation during the renewable energy generation transition hence the name ‘Clean Energy Bridge’ It will also remain as a backup for grid resilience and reliability beyond the future Renewable Energy (RE) target achievements.

Energy delivered from the plant will contribute, in the short to medium term, approximately 27% of the annual energy requirements for Barbados. In addition, the CEB will:

Provide for flexible integration of RE on to the grid as Light & Power transitions away from fossil fuel; Reduce the demand on older generation assets and increase the generation location diversity; Provide reliable generation capacity while lowering the fuel bill for the country and the customer.

SCOPE

The project scope included the Engineering, Procurement and Construction (EPC) of the plant on the eastern part of the 72-acre Light & Power commercial property, located at Trents in St Lucy The power plant consists of four (4) x 8 25 MW Wärtsilä 18V32E3 units, which run on Heavy Fuel Oil (Bunker C). Power is generated at 11,000 Volts, then stepped up to 24,000 Volts and transmitted to the grid

from the Trents Substation The Trents Substation is interconnected to the grid via several kilometres of underground cables.

The main components of the project scope included:

Planning studies (including Environmental Impact Assessment, Electrical Interconnection Studies, Transportation Studies)

Human Resources plan, which included recruitment and training Site preparation (clearing, filling, levelling, perimeter fencing, etc )

Complete detailed engineering design for the substation expansion, protection, communication and grid interconnection Expansion of the substation to accommodate additional switchgear required for the new plant

Design and construction of plant facilities (Administration Building, Workshops, Warehouse)

Site civil works (roads, drainage systems etc )

Design and construction of fuel and water storage facilities (Tank Farm)

Installation of a 33 MW of Medium Speed Diesel generation station and associated balance of plant Commissioning, performance and environmental testing of the plant

PROJECT TIMELINE

Mar 2018 to Mar 2019 – Site clearing and site preparation

Mar 2018 – Request for Proposals sent out for power plant EPC supply

Apr 2019 to Jun 2019 – Negotiations for plant EPC contract

Nov 2019 – Signed EPC contract for power plant

Dec 2019 – Geotechnical Investigations commenced

Jan 2020 – Feb 2022 – Construction and Installation

Jun 2021 to May 2022 – Commissioning and Performance Testing

Jun 2022 – Commercial operation

Image above showing Clean Energy Bridge Plant with the 10 MW Solar Farm in the background

Images above showing Plant Electrical Room (L) and Control Room (R)

FEATURES OF THE PLANT and PROJECT HIGHLIGHTS

Availability, reliability and resilience

The power plant is designed with an intended useful life of 25 years and is expected to achieve high availability and reliability through:

Utilisation of a modern fuel-efficient engine type with a successful operation history and proven design principles, materials and components; Engineering a high level of redundancy into critical systems such as control systems and auxiliary equipment to reduce the likelihood of a single element or device failure causing a shut down; Ensuring that input from BLPC’s technical personnel and consultants was incorporated into the project at every stage, from the planning process right through to commissioning;

Design of the plant to withstand wind speeds of up to 160 mph (lower end of Category 5 hurricanes) as well as seismic events;

Design of the plant with baseload capability whilst also having the ability to startup and respond quickly to sudden load changes, as would be required of a plant used to provide backup power for intermittent renewable energy sources; Careful recruitment and training of the operations staff ahead of commercial operation of the plant to ensure personnel were well equipped to operate and maintain the plant from the get-go

Environmental

The engine type utilised in this plant has an efficiency superior to those the assets will replace This means less fuel consumption and hence less emissions and greater efficiency per unit of electrical energy produced.

These engines utilise variable inlet valve closing on the combustion chambers. This design makes it possible to achieve better performance on part-loads, allowing for less smoke in the combustion and better load acceptance resulting in lower emission levels

The planning permissions for the site limit noise emissions to 52 dBA at the site boundary To achieve this computer modelling was done to verify the noise attenuation design. The following features were incorporated into the plant:

(i) The engine halls were constructed with an additional layer of sound insulation, referred to as “noise attenuation shells”;

(ii) Ultra low noise radiator fans were utilised instead of the standard radiator fan design offered by the manufacturer;

(iii) A noise attenuation wall was constructed in the vicinity of the south-western corner of the site to ensure noise levels for the closest receptor are kept within the specified limits

Noise measurements were taken with the plant under worst-case conditions to ensure compliance within the limits

A plan for periodic noise monitoring is under review by the Environmental Protection Department (EPD).

The planning permissions set limits for stack emissions of Sulphur Dioxide (SO2), particulates (dust) and Oxides of Nitrogen (NOx) These correspond to those set out in World Bank guidelines. The SO2 and particulate limits in the stack emissions were achieved by use of a fuel with reduced Sulphur and Ash Content while achievement of the NOx limit is attributed to the engine design. During commissioning, tests were carried out under worst-case conditions to confirm compliance with the standards

Using computerised dispersion modelling (with historical weather data); the plant was designed to meet U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS) and other North American air quality standards, as recommended in the Environmental Impact Assessment. An Air Quality monitoring programme is currently under review by the EPD

The plant is designed to meet international standards for vibration so that occupants within the site buildings would not be adversely affected in terms of annoyance or comfort and to avoid structural damage of nearby buildings. Vibration tests were conducted as part of the plant commissioning to verify compliance

By use of a closed loop cooling water system water consumption is very low and limited to top up water to replace water lost due to minor leaks

Fuel storage areas are bunded, with a capacity of 125% of the largest tank volume as per Planning Permission requirements. These areas are built on an impermeable liner

Fuel storage areas have oil leak detection systems

Plant drainage systems utilise Triple Weir Interceptors to capture oil from spills. Any oil-contaminated water collected from sumps and drains in the plant is processed in an onsite treatment unit A Waste Management Plan has been put in place for operation of the plant.

Safety

All fuel-handling areas are outfitted with fully automatic fire suppression systems and all buildings have fire alarm systems installed.

The electrical rooms contain Inergen fire suppression systems Inergen is a mixture of naturally occurring inert gases that are not harmful to the environment like some other forms of fire protection (e.g. Halons). It is also safe to use in occupied areas because it allows persons to breathe even when the oxygen levels are reduced

The fire suppression systems have redundant fire pumps as well as dedicated firewater storage These systems meet international standards for fire safety The designs also meet local requirements so that in the event the Barbados Fire Service (BFS) is required to interface, hydrants and isolation valves have been ideally placed Emergency eyewash stations and safety showers are installed in all work areas.

Engine Halls and Electrical Building

Engine Room # 1

Transportation of Equipment

The majority of the plant equipment was shipped to Barbados in 40 ft. containers and received at the Port of Bridgetown, then transported to site via the highways The individual engines were the largest pieces of equipment to be transported, with the combined weight of one engine and trailer being approximately 135 metric tonnes These could not be transported without exceeding the weight limit of the bridges along the highway. As the original plan was to move these units via the highways a bridge study was conducted, which indicated a need for portable jump spans that would have to be imported. With the advent of the COVID-19 Pandemic, the delivery time for this option would have caused significant delays to the project Road transportation was thus eliminated as a practical option and the engines were transported via barge from the port, along the west coast to Maycocks Bay in the north where a flyover deck and truck with specialized trailer were used to offload each engine They were then transported through Arawak Cement Company’s property to the site via the Charles Duncan O’Neal Highway. At site the engines were transferred into the engine halls using a gantry crane with a hydraulic rail skidding system An Environmental Management Plan was prepared and a hydrographic survey conducted for the barge transportation with input from the Coastal Zone Management Unit, Environmental Protection Department and The Barbados Sea Turtle Project.

Below is a link to a YouTube video containing highlights of the transportation of the engines to site.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=786wUfItpg

Challenges

Construction of the Administration Building commenced in January 2020 while the main plant construction and installation commenced in March 2020, coinciding with the World Health Organisation’s declaration of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

At the time of the declaration of the pandemic mobilisation of overseas contractors had just started, with some already on island Site construction was halted from March 28 to May 3 2020, as the country entered its first COVID-19 lockdown. Construction resumed on May 4, 2020, however, as international travel was restricted several construction tasks that depended on overseas contractors were delayed.

Once personnel were again allowed to enter the island quarantine was mandatory

During the second lockdown (Feb 2021) BLPC obtained permission to continue construction so the impact of this lockdown on the project was minimised. Items shipped before March 2020 were not affected by the pandemic; however, several of the later shipments were delayed Where feasible the project team adjusted the project installation to minimise the impact of these delays. The ash fall from the April 2021 eruption of La Soufrière Volcano also set back the project by several weeks Plant buildings that had not been covered by the time of the ash fall required extensive cleaning in addition to the general clean up required at the site

Commissioning and Commercial Operation

The contracted performance test targets were all achieved during commissioning. In addition to the environmental targets mentioned earlier, this included targets for Heat Rate, Specific Fuel Oil Consumption, Specific Lube Oil Consumption and Power Output.

The plant also exceeded its Reliability Test target, which required 7-day continuous operation with a minimum availability of 97%.

Since commencement of commercial operation on June 28, 2022, the CEB has been operated as a baseload facility and so far, there have been no major technical issues. As at the writing of this article, all units have completed 2,500 running hours. It is estimated that in the first month of operation fuel savings to customers totalled approximately ten million Barbados dollars. See the link below: https://youtu be/Ig1a3lBIMz0

Tank Farm Administration Building

Hotel

Venue: Savannah

Guest Speaker: Senator The Hon. Lisa Cummins

2021 Project of the Year Awardee

Vineyard Water Augmentation Project - Barbados Water Authority

2022 Project of the Year Awardee

Clean Energy Bridge - Barbados Light & Power Company Ltd.

2022 Fellow Awardee

Eng. Dr. Grenville Phillips II

Eng. Dr. Phillips has 31 years of experience in structural engineering, has authored several books, has contributed to the local BAPE serving as its president for 3 terms, and the regional IStructE chapter serving as its secretary. Dr. Phillips is also a Fellow of the IStructE and the Chartered Institution of Highways and Transportation

He has been involved in several local projects of national significance including several road and highway rehabilitation projects, Coast Guard, Grantley Adams International Airport, Kensington Oval and many hotels in Barbados.

He also conducts traning seminars across many Banks, Expositions, Workshops, Volunteer Organizations both locally and across the Caribbean.

We are pleased to announce that our 1st Vice President, Vincent Jones and his colleague Hugh Holder emerged victorious in the Monument Design Competition with their entry "We Loyal Sons and Daughters All".

For a full description of the entry, please click on the link below.

We wish to extend congratulations to Mr Vincent Jones and his colleague on their excellent work

NATIONAL HEROES SQUARE MONUMENTVincent Jones and Hugh Holder

A B O U T B A R B A D O S

A S S O C I A T I O N O F P R O F E S S I O N A L E N G I N E E R S

The Association was conceived on 2 October 1964 at the Drill Hall where a Steering Committee held 4 meetings to develop the constitution The first general meeting was held at the Marine on 19 November 1964 where Sir Frank Hutson was elected the first President. Other Founding Members of BAPE include:

F Gill, G Crawford, P Browne, C Evelyn, F McConney, P. Cheeseman, T. Gill, J. Nelson, J. Connell, G. Heywood, M Roachford, Sir Frank Hutson, J Rowe, E Elliot, K Johnson, H Sealy, C Emptage, L Johnson, D Sinson, C Evelyn, B Mahy, A Wason, A Mail & L Williams

The BAPE aims to keep its membership and the wider community informed with the latest body of engineering knowledge through engaging in seminars, newsletter articles and much more We also seek to represent the engineering community both locally and regionally through engaging in relevant topics of engineering interest

The Association has been working hard to bring you its publications of various interesting articles, videos, webinars and interviews. Check out our webpage – www bape org

Interesting content found on our webpage include (click links below to view):

Our Bylaws

Our Code of Ethics

The list of our Membership

Are you interested in joining? (see our BAPE Application form)

We are pleased to showcase our Continuous Professional Development(CPD) platform –here Members can easily review their event attendance record, their CPD performance summary, and generally manage their CPDs.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Our social media pages can be found at:

Previous Teaser Solution

Move all bikes 50 km, then empty half the bikes' fuel tanks into the other to fill them up. Keep doing this until you have 1 bike with a full tank to finish the trek. You'll have the odd bike stranded when dividing odd numbers. This way you'll get the last bike of the 50 to have traveled 350 km in total.

Answer: 350 km

Strange Construction

credit: (1) 35 remarkable construction failsGallery | eBaum's World (ebaumsworld com)

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