Schletter Group consolidates its leading position in the Caribbean market with a major new solar project. A project that would mark a milestone in the Caribbean’s energy transition, at a time when the president of the Caribbean Development Bank had urged the region’s countries to speed up their transition. The manufacturer of photovoltaic mounting systems will supply the structures for a 130 MWp ground-mounted project developed by SEMI. This brings the total production of clean energy via Schletter systems in the Caribbean to over 700 MWp. System durability in the face of corrosive marine environments and seasonal hurricanes is crucial.
Weatherproof solutions
Schletter systems are renowned for their resilience in the face of extreme weather conditions, a major asset in the Caribbean. CEO Florian Roos emphasizes this ability as a key factor in the customer’s decision to work with Schletter. The company’s reputation for robust installations is a major factor in its dominant market position in the region.
SEMI’s “Coastal Solar” project
Located near San Pedro de Macoris, some 80 km east of Santo Domingo, SEMI’s “Coastal Solar” project will comprise 255,540 modules on 5,370 racks. Schletter will supply its ground-mounted FS Duo system, designed to withstand winds of up to 257 km/h. This robustness is essential for coping with frequent hurricanes. What’s more, the system offers short installation times and greater economy thanks to long spans.
Adapting to local challenges
To cope with the extreme humidity and high chloride content of the marine atmosphere, Schletter uses a corrosion-resistant zinc coating. The local geology, marked by heterogeneous, stony soil, called for innovative concrete foundations using “micropiles”. These foundations effectively dissipate tension and shear forces caused by extreme winds, and guarantee precise installation thanks to the use of GPS measurements.
A long-standing commitment
Active in the Dominican Republic since 2011, Schletter Group has completed numerous large-scale projects in the country, including ground systems at Monte Plata, Monte Cristi and Santanasol, as well as the AERODOM airports. The company also supplied the largest PV tracking system in the Caribbean, which began producing 97 MWp of clean energy in 2023 in Cumayasa.
