Brechin Castle Solar Plant Sod-Turning Ceremony

Prime Minister Dr the Hon. Keith Rowley officially turned the sod for the construction of a utility-scale solar plant at Brechin Castle today (Wednesday 12th April, 2023). Vice President, Gas and Low Carbon Energy, bp Mrs. Anja-Isabel Dotezenrath joined Dr Rowley at the sod-turning ceremony.

The plant is a joint venture between bp Alternative Energy Trinidad and Tobago and Shell Renewables Caribbean.

On completion the 92-megawatt solar site is set to be the largest solar energy producer in the Caribbean.

It is also expected to lower our carbon dioxide emissions by 150,000 tonnes annually and reduce Trinidad’s power generation gas demand which will allow for the sale of this gas to LNG and petrochemical markets.

In July 2019, bp, Shell and Lightsource bp (LSbp) formed a consortium and submitted a proposal in response to the Government’s Request for Proposals to build, own, operate, and supply up to 130 MW of renewable power to Trinidad and Tobago’s national grid.

The solar park will help Trinidad and Tobago achieve its Paris Accord commitment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the power generation sector by 30% by 2030.

Also in attendance at today’s event were the Minister of Energy and Energy Industries and Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, the Hon. Stuart Young, Minister of Public Utilities, the Hon Marvin Gonzales, Senior Vice President and Country Chair of Shell Trinidad and Tobago, Mr Eugene Okpere, Executive and President, bp Trinidad and Tobago, Mr. David Campbell.