USTDA Supports Microgrid Expansion in Haiti
May 28, 2015
(USTDA)
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti – Yesterday, the U.S.
Trade and Development Agency awarded a grant to
Enèji Pwòp, S.A., a Haitian social enterprise,
for a feasibility study to assess and rank the
viability of developing pre-pay microgrids in
approximately 100 Haitian towns.
“USTDA is pleased to support Haiti’s efforts to
increase access to reliable electricity,” said
USTDA Regional Director Nathan D. Younge.
“Enèji Pwòp’s current microgrid operations and
its plans for expansion demonstrate how
industry can work with municipalities on
innovative solutions to bring affordable power
to rural and semi-urban populations.”
The grant was signed by U.S. Ambassador Pamela
A. White and Rachel McManus, the President of
Enèji Pwòp, at a ceremony at the U.S. Embassy
in Port-au-Prince. Enèji Pwòp has selected
Energy and Security Group – a small,
woman-owned firm headquartered in Reston, Va.,
with extensive experience in energy access – to
carry out the feasibility study. The main
output from the study will be a detailed
preliminary feasibility assessment and ranking
of each of the 100 towns based on economics,
physical infrastructure and community
objectives. By determining the 40 best
locations for near-term development of
approximately 100-kilowatt microgrids, the
study will enable Enèji Pwòp to prepare a
fundable investment plan for microgrid
expansion in Haiti.
Enèji Pwòp, which will also contribute
financial resources toward the study, was
founded with the mission of eradicating energy
poverty in Haiti. Along with its partner
organization EarthSpark International, it has
operated Haiti’s first pre-pay microgrid since
November 2012 in Les Anglais, using low-cost
smart meter technology from U.S. company
SparkMeter (Washington, District of Columbia).
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