President Luis Abinader attended the inaugural of the largest solar power plant in the Caribbean. The Empresa Generadora de Electricidad Haina (EgeHaina), a public-private venture, invested US$100 million to build the new Girasol Solar Park. The plant has installed capacity for 120 megawatts and is estimated to produce 240,000 megawatt hours (MWh) per year, enough to supply the electricity consumption of more than 100,000 homes
The new clean energy plant is located in the municipality of Yaguate, San Cristóbal province, and is EGE Haina’s sixth renewable energy plant and the largest in the Caribbean.
268,200 solar panels were installed on a surface of 220 hectares. One hectare is equal to 10,000 square meters (m2).
In his remarks, President Abinader highlighted the contribution that this type of investment makes to the sustainable development of the country’s economy. “This investment puts the focus on national energy production efficiency, quality of service and above all environmental protection as a guarantee of country and planet sustainability for future generations,” said President Abinader.
He said his administration is backing renewable energies in both the public and private sectors.
The general manager of EGE Haina, Luis Mejía Brache said that the park increases by 50% the national photovoltaic capacity. He said renewables now are 34.5% of the total generation capacity of EgeHaina. With this new project, EGE Haina reaches a combined installed capacity of renewable energy of 300 MW, coming from its wind and solar power plants. EGE Haina has gone from operating 100% thermal power plants to a renewed and diversified matrix whose production is currently 65% clean, based on renewables and natural gas in only ten years.
“We have a clear path and we are making good progress in our growth plan for the year 2030, which will contribute to the energy balance of the Dominican Republic, producing electricity in an efficient and environmentally responsible manner, reducing the country’s dependence on fossil fuels,” he said.
He highlighted that the company’s strategy is aligned with population and economic growth projections, and in concert with national commitments to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), especially goal number seven, on affordable and clean energy, and goal number 13, which deals with climate action.
The new clean energy park will avoid the annual emission of 150,000 tons of CO2 into the atmosphere and import 400,000 barrels of oil, mitigating the effects of climate change and representing savings in foreign exchange.
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Ege Haina
13 June 2021