Solar Energy MicroGrid
El Astillero Resort is joining the growing number of resorts that use solar plus storage and other microgrid-like solutions. Richard Branson’s Necker Island microgrid is probably the most publicized. But there are many other examples, as different as New England retreats and African luxury outposts.
Electricity in Nicaragua is among the most expensive in Latin America. Electrical utility customers there are subject to tiered tariff billing with a peak rate between 6 pm and 10 pm when energy usage spikes. El Astillero Resort is utilizing a photo voltaic/grid tied generation system which supplies a significantly less expensive energy as compared to the current grid supplied electricity, which mitigates elevated energy and demand rates during the evening network peak. The system also supplies a more reliable electricity source with virtually no power outages or “brown-outs”.
El Astillero Resort is currently installing expandable modular grid tied/generator solar electricity generation stations to service the various residential units currently being constructed within the community. These standalone solar electrical generation units will consist of shipping container housed systems which are comprised of state of the art non-toxic salt water-based batteries and the latest in inverter technology. These installations will service 12 oceanside casitas, a Condo-Hotel-Restaurant complex, an eco casita complex and numerous single-family dwellings. The solar panel array collection infrastructure will be utilized to provide covered parking areas and will be placed in other strategic areas. Solar panels will not be placed on single family dwellings.
“Whether it is salt farmers in India embracing solar power or wind companies creating tens of thousands of jobs in America, people are providing a vision for the clean energy future.
–Frances Beinecke
The premise of the solar-grid tied system is to supply all the electricity needs for our residents and guests and to supply electricity requirements to operate all infrastructure such as water wells and admin offices.
The solar plus storage system will help the resort residents save on utility bills. By using non-toxic, salt water batteries for energy storage not only alleviates environmental concerns, but also provides excellent ROI. The solar plus storage system will allow the resort to supply daytime and nighttime electricity demands. The system will run appliances during the day and charge up the batteries and then discharge the battery stored energy in the evening, limiting the community’s need to rely on supplementary grid or generator power at a time when it is exceptionally expensive.
Variable Usage Levels Available
We have created three packages for purchase that reflect different amounts of energy use that the solar /battery / inverter system could provide. These packages correlate to different energy consumption and home usage needs. Batteries are a dominant cost item in the overall budget for a solar system. The cost-sizing of the system naturally comes down to how long you want to power your A/C or large appliances after the sun goes down.
We have established three usage patterns and designed systems for each pattern:
- Eco User 15 KWH/day: Use of A/C only during the heat of the day when the sun is shining.
- Regular User 23.5 KWH/Day: Use of A/C until ambient temperature drops (approx. sundown + 4 hours).
- Power User 36.3 KWH/Day: Use of 2 A/C units all night if you want it.
* Note the average home across the USA uses 31KWH / day.
As our “energy commitment” to our clients we will have “built in” redundancy. It will come in the form additional battery storage capacity a/o a propane generator a/o grid tie to Union Fenosa. The built-in redundancy will be only for emergency situations to auto charge the batteries in the event we have several cloudy or low wind days. We will be a green development, as we will only use the backup for emergency.
All owners are essentially buying into the community eco-grid. El Astillero Resort will meter the usage of the owners. We encourage owners to stay within their “purchased” package, but in the event they do not, more available energy will be there. Each of the three entry level packages purchased will have set daily max power base line usages assigned to them to facilitate fair and accurate billing based on a multi tiered billing system. For example, the “Power User” entry level will have a higher baseline power usage
allotted to it, thereby resulting in more electricity available to the specific owner of the plan at lower tier rates.
All pricing of constructed units will include the installation of the entry level solar system.
Packages for “Regular Users” and “Power Users” will be available for purchase.
Grid Tied Current Flow Illustration
