St. John, the smallest and least commercialized of the US Virgin Islands, is the most recent in a series of U.S. island territories to install commercial-scale solar photovoltaic (PV) systems using US-made equipment. ESA Renewables, a Lake Mary, Forida-based solar company, recently announced the installation of a 16-kilowatt (kW) PV system at Eco Serendib Villa and Spa, an eco-friendly, “luxury villa frequented by discerning visitors from around the world.”
The PV system, consisting of U.S.-made Suniva PV modules, is expected to produce more than 23,360 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity and offset over 35,512 pounds of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year. According to ESA, the facility’s production capacity is equivalent to taking over 1,100 cars off the road for a day. The PV system is part of the villa’s commitment to reduce its carbon footprint and incorporate eco-friendly products into its offerings.
“As solar panels are installed on an increasing number of commercial rooftops, we see a significant reduction on the buildings’ total energy costs,” said Jeffrey Burkett, President of ESA Renewables. “Additionally, as more businesses strive to reduce their carbon footprint, a solar photovoltaic system such as the one ESA Renewables recently installed at the eco-villa resort on St. John makes sense, not only financially, but environmentally as well.”