Over Yonder Cay is a renewable energy island resort in the Bahamas designed to harness the natural power of wind and sun. Its hybrid energy system combines wind turbines, solar PV, battery storage and diesel backup to meet 96% of the island’s energy needs with wind and solar power.
In mid-2013, the microgrid reached a major milestone: 1 million kWh of wind energy generated. The project demonstrates how wind power can be integrated with solar and energy storage to reduce diesel dependence in remote island environments.
A Renewable Energy Microgrid for an Island Resort
The renewable energy microgrid at Over Yonder Cay combines three Northern Power 100 kW wind turbines with a 1.5-acre, 375 kW solar field and a 6 MWh battery bank.
The battery system smooths the supply of electricity from the variable wind and solar resources and, according to the original project specifications, has enough capacity to power the island on its own for up to two days.
When wind and solar generation are insufficient for a prolonged period, diesel generators automatically start to provide up to 400 kW of backup power. Thanks to the island’s favorable wind and solar conditions, the backup generators were designed to be used only when required.
This combination enables the resort to use local renewable resources while maintaining the reliability required by an isolated hospitality operation.
1 Million kWh of Wind Energy Generated
By mid-2013, Over Yonder Cay’s wind turbines had generated 1 million kWh of wind energy.
The project reported annual wind energy production of approximately 671,000 kWh, helping the island avoid the consumption of more than 77,000 US gallons (291,000 liters) of diesel per year.
Based on the original project calculations, this corresponded to an annual carbon offset of approximately 880 tons of CO₂.
The U.S. Energy Information Administration provides standardized CO₂ emission factors for petroleum fuels, including distillate fuels such as diesel.
For an island environment where conventional fuel must be transported to the site, reducing diesel consumption can provide both environmental and operational benefits.
“Since both solar and wind power installations have been achieving power grid cost parity, it is becoming more attractive than ever to install renewable energy systems on remote islands, as the cost of diesel is higher and the environment is more pristine.”
— Pedro Monteiro, Renewable Energy Engineer, Over Yonder Cay
Wind Turbines for Islands: Why the NPS 100 Was Selected
The Exuma Cays benefit from near-constant easterly trade winds and abundant sunny days, creating favorable conditions for an island microgrid combining wind and solar generation.
The Northern Power turbines offered several characteristics suited to the resort application.
Quiet Operation
The NPS 100’s gearless design, advanced blades, lower rotational speed and lower blade-tip speed contribute to reduced noise levels — an important consideration for a hospitality environment.
Designed for Harsh Island Conditions
Two turbines were installed in October 2010. A third turbine was subsequently added after the original two survived Hurricane Irene in August 2011.
For remote island projects, turbine robustness is particularly important because extreme weather conditions and limited site accessibility can make maintenance and equipment replacement more challenging.
Suitable for Microgrids
The 100 kW turbine size makes the technology suitable for distributed generation and hybrid energy microgrid applications where wind generation must operate alongside other energy sources.
At Over Yonder Cay, the turbines work as part of an integrated system rather than as a standalone generation source, complementing solar PV, battery storage and diesel backup.
Appropriate for a Resort Environment
The turbines’ relatively low profile and compact architecture also helped integrate wind generation into an exclusive island resort where visual and acoustic considerations are important alongside energy performance.
Hurricane Irene and the Expansion to Three Wind Turbines
The project also provides a practical example of wind energy operating in a Caribbean environment exposed to severe weather.
The first two Northern Power wind turbines were installed in October 2010. In August 2011, they survived Hurricane Irene, after which a third turbine was added to the renewable energy system.
The final configuration therefore included three 100 kW wind turbines, providing 300 kW of installed wind capacity alongside the resort’s solar and battery systems.
Renewable Energy and the Guest Experience
For Over Yonder Cay, renewable energy was not only an engineering consideration.
The system allowed resort activities to be supported by a high share of locally generated wind and solar energy. This was particularly relevant for an exclusive island destination where environmental quality forms part of the overall guest experience.
The result is an example of how renewable energy infrastructure can support both the operational requirements and sustainability objectives of remote hospitality sites.
Continuous Optimization of the Wind Energy System
At the time of the original case study, Northern Power Systems was preparing a firmware upgrade for the turbines designed to further optimize their performance.
The planned improvements included enhanced grid-fault handling and reactive-power capabilities, with the objective of providing more precise control of turbine output, allowing the turbines to remain online for longer at reduced power levels and improving energy capture, availability and operation and maintenance performance.
This approach reflects the importance of controls and system integration in a hybrid microgrid, where wind turbines must operate effectively alongside solar generation, battery storage and conventional backup power.
Renewable Energy Solutions for Islands and Remote Sites
Over Yonder Cay demonstrates how wind turbines for islands can form part of a broader renewable energy strategy.
By combining 300 kW of wind power, 375 kW of solar PV, 6 MWh of battery storage and diesel backup, the resort created a hybrid system designed around the specific energy requirements and renewable resources of an isolated site.
For island resorts, remote communities and off-grid facilities, the optimal configuration will depend on local wind and solar resources, electrical loads, storage requirements, logistics and existing generation infrastructure.
Planning an Island or Remote-Site Energy Project?
Northern Power Systems provides wind power solutions for islands, microgrids and remote sites.
If you are evaluating how wind energy could complement solar PV, battery storage or existing diesel generation, contact our team to discuss your project requirements and site conditions.