In the Bahamas, where electricity costs remain high due to reliance on diesel and fossil fuel-based generation, solar solutions with storage are beginning to gain prominence within the commercial and industrial segment.
In that context, Sonowatt Energies and Operadores Nacionales , with Huawei technology, developed the Bodega Sonowatt – Verizon Business Park project, a photovoltaic installation with energy storage located in Nassau, Bahamas.
It was designed under a strategy of maximum self-consumption , with the aim of taking advantage of the solar energy generated during the day and reducing dependence on the electrical grid.
To achieve this, the system integrates photovoltaic generation and batteries, allowing the surplus energy produced during daylight hours to be stored for use during the afternoon and evening.
The project supplies power to three commercial warehouse-type facilities , each designed with dedicated solar generation capacity.
According to the technical information of the case, the system achieves an estimated self-consumption rate of 99.9% , maximizing the use of energy generated on site and improving the operational efficiency of the facilities.
The installed solution includes three Huawei SUN5000-150KTL-MG0 inverters and two Huawei LUNA2000-215 kWh batteries , a configuration aimed at reducing electricity costs, offsetting commercial energy consumption during daylight hours, improving sustainability performance and increasing energy resilience.
Francisco Marcano , General Manager of Sonowatt Energies, explains that the current energy scheme of the Bahamas continues to be heavily conditioned by that dependence.
“It relies heavily on fossil fuels, and that makes electricity quite expensive for everyone in the country, due to the fluctuation of fuel costs in the global market,” he points out.
He also points out that the country's energy demand is linked to both tourism and the commercial and industrial sectors.
“The main activity in the Bahamas is tourism. A large part of the energy is focused on that part of the economy. We also have commercial and industrial parks, which require a lot of energy,” Marcano says.
Within this framework, Sonowatt Energies focuses its activity on offering solar solutions for commercial and industrial users seeking to reduce costs, gain predictability, and improve their energy efficiency.
Timothy Dames, owner of The Island Garden Hotel, helps to illustrate the impact that energy has on the economic life of the Bahamas.
“Life in the Bahamas is based on tourism, which is the country’s number one industry. That’s why energy is so important: firstly, because we want to ensure the comfort of our guests,” Dames says.
Their experience reflects the challenges faced by various users across the country in the need for a stable supply, especially in activities where continuity of service is critical.
“Each room has air conditioning, a microwave, and a refrigerator. We also have our own laundry facilities. In this type of operation, you either have a backup generator or you have to stop everything,” he warns.
The vulnerability of the supply becomes more relevant during hurricane season, when the main electrical grid may suffer interruptions.
“We have our own generator because, being an island nation, during hurricane season the main power grid sometimes stops working,” Dames explains.
And he sums up the challenge with a powerful phrase: "Without energy, you're in the dark."
Patricia Him , BESS Manager of National Operators, explains that this type of solution responds to three main customer needs.
“The client had three key points: a continuous power solution to avoid any power outages in the facilities; reducing peaks to improve the efficiency of electricity use; and a solution that would allow them to decrease and improve the bill they had at that time,” he explains.
Integrating storage is key to achieving these goals, as it allows capturing surplus solar generation during peak production hours and using it when photovoltaic generation decreases.
“As part of the solution, we store the surplus solar energy during the day and use that energy at night,” says Patricia Him, BESS Manager for National Operators.
According to the case data presented, the solution allows for up to 60% coverage of the total energy consumption of the installation through solar energy and contributes to an approximate reduction of 76 tons of CO₂ emissions.
“In this solution, we already have 60% coverage of the total consumption of the installation from the solar system,” Him explains.
He adds: “Our contribution to a greener Bahamas is approximately 76 tons of CO₂ emissions reduction.”
In projects of this type, specialized technical support is crucial to ensure proper integration between photovoltaic generation, storage, inverters and operating strategy.
Teamwork
Operadores Nacionales provides specialized technical support, certified personnel, configuration validation, commissioning and after-sales services, guaranteeing an efficient, reliable implementation aligned with the highest quality standards.
When selecting suppliers for the development of solar systems, Sonowatt Energies prioritized local presence, technical support, and the ability to provide support during design, installation, and commissioning.
“When we started looking for suppliers for solar system equipment, we were looking for a local presence,” says Marcano.
In this regard, Huawei's contribution stands out, both for the equipment and for the technical assistance available to advance commercial and industrial projects.
“Huawei offers an excellent option in high-tech equipment and solar solutions. But the most important part is the support provided by the local partner in the region, helping us with the design, installation, and commissioning of the solar systems,” he explains.
For C&I applications, this support is especially important because users not only seek to incorporate renewable generation, but also to ensure that the system operates efficiently, reliably, and responsibly to meet business needs.