Saona Island off the southeast coast is best known as the most popular tourist excursion sold in the Dominican Republic. It has a small population of around 500 inhabitants who will now benefit from the solar generator that is expected to enter into operation in March 2014.
The Ministry of Environment announced the unit that cost US$400,000 would supply clean energy to the more than 110 families living on the island in the village of Mano Juan. The generator will improve living conditions of the inhabitants of the protected area. The project was financed with contributions from the Ministry, the Government of Taiwan and the Finnish government’s Environmental Energy Alliance. The Ministry of Environment’s Climate Change and Renewable Energies Departments worked in coordination to install the plant, which they say will reduce the emission of CO2 by more than 300 tons at the site.
The unit will provide constant power to the island’s healthcare center, elementary school, IT center and surveillance center.
The new power plant will also supply electricity to the around 500 inhabitants who currently receive power three hours every evening supplied by two fuel-powered generators.