In the aftermath of Hurricane Dorian, the northern Bahamas was flattened, demolished, and would be forever associated with the deadliest natural disaster in Bahamian history. On Thursday, however, at the 15th Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) Abaco was recognized for its resiliency through its recent solar and storage projects. 

With 185mph maximum sustained winds, Hurricane Dorian left 2,500 people missing & thousands more displaced. “Rebuild stronger and better” was the motto adopted by Bahamians, government agencies, and non-profits from around the world. Among them were the Rotary Bahamas Disaster Relief and the Center for Disaster Philanthropy, which funded the solarization of three Abaco schools—Man-O-War Cay Primary, Great Guana Cay Primary, and Central Abaco Primary Schools.

With solar panels that can withstand +185mph winds, each school features battery storage, each school functions as a hurricane shelter.

Compass Power, a Bahamian-owned EPC contractor, managed the Abaco projects. According to Compass Power principal, Justin Cunningham, “Our goal was to make Abaco more resilient and reliant on its natural resources. Using the world’s leading technology and long-standing solar equipment, these schools are not only self-efficient, but now serve as hurricane shelters for their communities.”

At CREF in Miami, Florida, the project received the 2023 Best Energy Resilience Project award, an honor reserved for leaders in the Caribbean energy sector that oversaw a clean energy project with outstanding resilience this year. The Minister of the Environment and Natural Resources, Vaughn Miller; Permanent Secretary, Phedra Rahming-Turnquest; and the Director of the Department of Environmental Planning and Protection, Dr. Rhianna Neely accepted the award.

“The Abaco schools solar and storage project represents a further step in The Bahamas’ continued commitment to rebuild stronger and cleaner, and provide equitable access to reliable energy,” said Dr. Neely. 

"The successful implementation of the Abaco school solar and storage project demonstrates how collaborative efforts between the government, donors, private sector entities, and NGOs can lead to truly transformative outcomes that benefit communities in need," said Fidel Neverson, technical manager with RMI’s Islands Energy Program, a part of a global non-profit, independent organization focused on accelerating the clean energy transition.

The project’s official commissioning will be held in the Abacos in the coming weeks.