Tiny Saint Lucia to Get Geothermal Power Plant
A 120-megawatt geothermal energy plant is slated to be built on the Caribbean island of Saint Lucia. The plant will be built by U.S.-based Qualibou Energy Inc.  The proposed geothermal site, Sulphur Springs, has been studied for over 30 years, and has an estimated capacity of 170 megawatts (MW).  30 megawatts of power has already been generated through several test sites.


The project will be completed in three phases.  The first phase of construction will see 12 MW come online by 2012.  The second phase is expected to expand the geothermal plant to 75 MW by 2013.  The third, and final phase will bring the plant’s capacity to 120 MW by 2015.


With a population of approximately 160,000, Saint Lucia plans to export two-thirds of the geothermal power to the island of Martinique via an underwater cable.