Alliance Power

From 2016 through 2021, Alliance was retained by a US investment company to manage the development, design, construction, and startup and commissioning of a micro-grid electrical system with renewables on a Caribbean Island. The first step in the overall implementation of the micro-grid program was the replacement of an end-of-life diesel generation plant with a new, 28 MW propane-fueled reciprocating engine generating facility to provide reliable lower-cost baseload electrical service. Based on the success of that project, Alliance was contracted to install a 6-mile submarine cable to extend the island grid to adjacent islands and provide grid power to 500 new customers and the adjacent islands. The final project was the construction of two (2) solar projects totaling 12.6 MW of renewable generation, coupled with 20 MWh of battery storage to provide enhanced grid stability for the intermittent renewable resources (solar and existing wind generation). This project also included deployment of the real-time micro-grid control system to continuously balance load and generation from multiple dispatchable and intermittent resources (propane, battery storage, solar, wind). Further information about these individual projects is presented below.

9-month power plant completion schedule from ground breaking to grid connection.
Project operational in February 2017 – substantial completion.
All new site infrastructure: electrical system control room, new electrical switchyard and substation, potable water system, wastewater system, fire pump and hydrants, LPG unloading dock, site security, LPG storage tanks, LPG Customs delivery requirements, roads, site lighting, 200,000 gallon diesel storage tank, channel dredging, and new operating and maintenance buildings - Customer Service and Administration Building (>$2 million), Power Generation O&M Building (>$1 million), Electrical Distribution Warehouse and Maintenance Building, and Vehicle O&M Building.
Difficult subsurface conditions – over 400 piles required for foundations in magnitude 7.5 earthquake zone. Alliance contracted design and performed QA/QC during concrete pile manufacturing and driving.
Integration of existing 12 MW diesel power plant into new generation and electrical distribution system.
New control room, distribution system controls and protection, switchgear.
New distribution substation, relays, and main power transformers.
Integration of all systems and equipment into plant-wide SCADA system, including security cameras.
Procurement and logistics for delivery of equipment and materials.
Contracting, procurement, management, and QA/QC of 7 major subcontractors.
Financial management, project management, schedule and budget control.
Records and financial assistance for USA tax and audit compliance.
Budget and account monitoring and tracking, invoice payment, disbursement requests, cash flow projections, bank account reconciliation, and funding requests and authorizations.

The same US investment company retained Alliance to manage, plan, permit, design, procure, construct and startup and commission an electric system distribution grid extension and 6-mile submarine cable connecting mainland Roatan to two (2) remote islands for the local electric utility – Roatan Electric Company (“RECO”). The project was initially estimated by several major US contractors at a cost of over $12 million. Alliance self-performed the project at a completed cost of less than $8 million in 2019. Services provided by Alliance included:

Project siting, permitting, and socialization.
Preliminary technical feasibility, and capital and operating budgets.
Bathymetric studies and finalizing subsea routes through a protected national marine park.
Local permitting support and documentation.
Financing loan proposals and documentation.
Insurance coverage and policies.
Budget and account monitoring and tracking, invoice payment, disbursement requests, cash flow projections, bank account reconciliation, and funding requests and authorizations.
Records and financial assistance for USA tax and audit compliance
Design and procurement of electric equipment including the $2.5 million submarine cable.
Management, contracting, coordination, and oversight of subsea cable installation.
Electrical grid interconnections, relay studies, distribution line design (above and below ground), and on-shore subsea cable landings (4 total).
Logistics and shipping coordination for delivery of major equipment to Roatan from various world-wide suppliers.
Logistics for live-a-board ship accommodations during cable installation.
Management and procurement of construction contractors.
On-site engineering and construction quality control and assurance.
Start, commissioning and training of utility staff.

The same US investment company retained Alliance to manage, plan, permit, design, procure, construct and startup and commission two (2) solar projects totaling 12.6 MW coupled with 20 MWh of battery storage to provide enhanced grid stability on a Caribbean Island electric system. The project value was approximately $40 million and it was completed in phases, with a 6.9 MW solar and 20MWh battery storage facility operational in 2020 and a 5.7 MW solar facility operational in January 2022. Significant project work included:

Land procurement
Environmental studies and permits, including local building permits
Management, contracting, review and QA/QC of geotechnical, solar, civil, mechanical, and electrical designs
Procurement and logistics for delivery of solar modules, battery system, inverters, rack systems, module cable systems, and other equipment and materials.
Construction management: Contracting, procurement, management, and QA/QC of subcontractors.
Financial management, project management, schedule and budget control.
Records and financial assistance for USA tax and audit compliance.
Budget and account monitoring and tracking, invoice payment, disbursement requests, cash flow projections, bank account reconciliation, and funding requests and authorizations.

Micro-grid: Roatan Electric Company