Large solar farm under development in Trinidad

Investors in Trinidad are months away from completing a new solar farm which, at 92 megawatts, is expected to become the largest such facility in the Caribbean.

The Brechin Castle Solar Farm, which spans 238 hectares of land at Point Lisas, is a joint-venture project of Brechin Castle Solar Farm Limited, or BSCL, and Grupotec, the Spain-based contractor leading the construction. BSCL is itself a partnership comprising bpTT, Shell, and the National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago.

The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago, ECTT, said that with one-third of the project already completed and the remaining work on track for completion by the end of 2025, the solar farm is expected to contribute approximately eight per cent of Trinidad and Tobago’s total power-generation capacity.

It said the installed capacity of 92MW, projected to be operational by October this year, will provide clean energy equivalent to the needs of 31,500 homes. Notably, the project has achieved an impressive safety record of 350,000 incident-free work hours, a testament to the rigorous standards upheld by the construction team.

Project Manager Anand Ramkellawan, in highlighting several challenges encountered during the initial phases, said they included communication barriers, difficult terrain, flooding, and labour-related issues. However, these hurdles have yielded valuable learnings, reinforcing the project’s role as a pioneering initiative in the country’s energy transition.

The energy chamber said environmental stewardship has been a priority throughout the project’s execution, and that compliance with the Certificate of Environmental Clearance ensured minimal disruption to local ecosystems.

“Measures such as relocating wildlife – including caimans, bees, and otters – using sustainable construction techniques like piling and reinforcement with aggregate, and planting vetiver grass for land stabilisation, demonstrate the project’s commitment to environmental responsibility,” it said.

“Once operational, the Brechin Castle Solar Farm will stand as the largest project in Grupotec’s global portfolio, which spans Europe, the Americas, Africa, and the Caribbean. Beyond its energy contributions, the solar farm is projected to reduce CO2 emissions by 123,000 tonnes annually – equivalent to removing 26,000 cars from the road – marking a major step towards Trinidad and Tobago’s sustainability goals,” ECTT said.

“As construction progresses, the energy chamber will continue to monitor and support this landmark initiative, which promises to reshape the nation’s energy landscape for years to come,” the group said.

CMC