Haiti Microgrid Operator Takes Preventive Steps as Hurricane Irma Nears

Sept. 7, 2017
Haiti microgrid operator Sigora Haiti reported Wednesday that it was preparing its facilities in Haiti to minimize any damage from Hurricane Irma.

Haiti microgrid operator Sigora Haiti reported Wednesday that it was preparing its facilities to minimize any damage from Hurricane Irma.

The micro-utility company provides electricity to more than 8,000 people in northwest Haiti.

Irma is expected to skirt the northern coast of Haiti, about 65 miles from the three microgrids: Môle-St-Nicolas, Jean Rabel, and Presqu’île.

“We are expecting severe winds, flying debris, storm surge, and flooding. Any waterway, including those that are normally dry, may jump their banks and become dangerous,” said Drew Lebowitz, vice president of operations for Sigora Haiti. “The most dangerous aspect of the storm in these towns is debris. In a high-wind scenario, everything that’s not bolted down becomes a missile.”

Sigora teams have removed solar panels from a recently-completed 200 kW array in Môle-St-Nicola to protect them from flying debris. Any damage to the panels would slow power restoration after the storm.

“Our priority is providing reliable electricity to our customers and if a temporary interruption in service is necessary, we want to ensure that it is as short as possible” said Tyler Welsh, Sigora Haiti’s deputy director of operations.

The microgrids may be shut down preemptively for the hours of strongest wind and rain, and restored after repairs are made. Radio and megaphone announcements will inform residents of planned grid closures.

Môle-St-Nicolas is a remote town, nine hours from the capital Port-au-Prince. So Sigora is stockpiling water purification materials, medical kits, and food at its offices in Jean Rabel and Môle-St-Nicolas for the local population.

“It’s the community and capacity we have built locally that makes the difference” said Drew. “We have an incredibly capable team that is trained in technical matters and safety concerns for preparing the population, taking precautions, and being ready to put things back together whatever happens.”

This would not be the first time the Haiti microgrid company participated in a hurricane relief effort. Sigora Haiti crews assisted in the aftermath of Hurricane Matthew, a Category 4 in October 2016. Matthew left parts of the country without power for more than three weeks. But Sigora Haiti was able to restore power at Môle-St-Nicolas in just 55 hours.

Track news about how the Haiti microgrid facilities weather Hurricane Irma. Follow us on Twitter @MicrogridNews 

About the Author

Elisa Wood | Editor-in-Chief

Elisa Wood is an award-winning writer and editor who specializes in the energy industry. She is chief editor and co-founder of Microgrid Knowledge and serves as co-host of the publication’s popular conference series. She also co-founded RealEnergyWriters.com, where she continues to lead a team of energy writers who produce content for energy companies and advocacy organizations.

She has been writing about energy for more than two decades and is published widely. Her work can be found in prominent energy business journals as well as mainstream publications. She has been quoted by NPR, the Wall Street Journal and other notable media outlets.

“For an especially readable voice in the industry, the most consistent interpreter across these years has been the energy journalist Elisa Wood, whose Microgrid Knowledge (and conference) has aggregated more stories better than any other feed of its time,” wrote Malcolm McCullough, in the book, Downtime on the Microgrid, published by MIT Press in 2020.

Twitter: @ElisaWood

LinkedIn: Elisa Wood

Facebook:  Microgrids

Related Content

Brandon Olafsson / Shutterstock.com

Department of Energy Spending Up to $200M Connecting Remote Microgrids

March 15, 2024
The U.S. Department of Energy is currently accepting proposals for transmission projects that would connect remote and isolated microgrids to each other or to existing transmission...
U.S. Army photo by Scott Darling, Fort Cavazos Public Affairs)

U.S. Army Improves Resilience at Fort Cavazos with New Microgrid

March 14, 2024
U.S. Army Garrison-Fort Cavazos, formerly known as Fort Hood, will use the microgrid to power critical services and infrastructure during outages and to reduce energy costs during...

Reducing Costs and Uncertainty in Microgrid Deployment By Employing An Integrated Solution

March 15, 2024
This white paper - the second in a series - explores the Model Predictive Controller (MPC) approach to Microgrid and EV infrastructure operation.

Malaysian Semiconductor Maker Secures Critical Power with Rolls-Royce mtu Powerpacks On-Site

March 13, 2024
X-FAB Sarawak, the Malaysian division of worldwide foundry group X-FAB, will utilize the four mtu Kinetic Powerpacks at its site in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia. The company manufactures...

Only through Standardization Can Microgrids Accelerate the Energy Transition

Jan. 18, 2024
Jana Gerber, North America microgrid president at Schneider Electric discusses how standardizing microgrids will accelerate the energy transition.

Grid Beyond Wp Cover 2023 01 06 12 24 33
Grid Beyond Wp Cover 2023 01 06 12 24 33
Grid Beyond Wp Cover 2023 01 06 12 24 33
Grid Beyond Wp Cover 2023 01 06 12 24 33
Grid Beyond Wp Cover 2023 01 06 12 24 33

Global Energy Trends 2023

Over 2021-22, environmental, macro-economic, and geopolitical shocks have put the global energy transition under pressure.