Hurricane Irma Notes

Hurricane Donna Cat. 4 September 4, 1960
Then 35 years later
Hurricane Luis Cat. 4 September 5, 1995
Then 22 years later
Hurricane Irma Cat. 5 September 6, 2017

Anguilla recently had a near miss with an above Cat. 5 hurricane. A near miss in this case meant that all of our electrical grid was destroyed. The storm took the roof and sometimes the entire building  of many homes, businesses and churches. Large buildings with a big room and a large galvanized roof really suffered. Old houses were destroyed. These old houses had been around for a hundred years. We took a tour and it was clear that if the house had any wood for support it was rotten and termite infested. On some of the newer old houses they created a berm of sorts around the edge of the galvanized and it held it in place but if the galvanized was exposed on the ends even if the roof was new that was a good chance the wind was going to get under it and rip it away. There are crumpled bits of galvanized all over the island.
Anguilla got the north wall of the storm, generally the dry wall with stronger wind. The eye of the storm went right over St. Martin/Maarten. The island has a big population and lots of buildings, not all of them built to withstand a hurricane. They suffered a lot of damage and loss of life. Anguilla had lots of damage but only one person died, he refused to leave his house and it fell on him. Our biggest concern is the fact that we lost the entire electrical grid. Many poles were destroyed along with any equipment that was on them.

After Luis I waited 3 months for power. 
I had two generators and the ability to siphon water from my cistern upstairs to my area downstairs and even make hot water using a solar bag and the hose. It was fine for one person but we now have 6 people in our compound and moving water around would be a chore nobody wants to do.
We did not wait for power after Irma, we had power through the storm and we are now servicing 4 households. That is because we have off-grid solar.
We are one of 4 households on the island that have some form of off grid solar. We have a big robust system and did not lose our roof mount solar. A few panels were damaged from flying debris but the system stayed on the roof and once we replaced the panels we continued making power. We are supplying all of our needs including washing and drying clothes for us and our neighbour. A long extension is enough for him to power his fridge, have some lights and a fan.
Our off-grid system has been in place since April 2015. Since then we have not felt a single power outage. If the grid goes down we know nothing about it. We are careful, we know when to do heavy load stuff like using the clothes dryer or the big convection oven but other than that we just behave like we are on the utility grid. There is no noise, no additional expense of fuel but since we have the old fashion lead acid batteries we must maintain them. It is really not a big deal. Now there are maintenance free lithium batteries and at some point we may switch over to those. They are smaller and require nothing.

The rest of Anguilla is experiencing a different reality. 
We also sell generators. A variety of sizes and fuels. We sell, install, repair and maintain many generators. Most of them require constant maintenance.  People are generally offended by generators, they want the power but don't want the hassle. Generators are nasty and smelly. You have to haul diesel or gasoline in your car and then fill your generator a lot. Oil changes are a must. You have to start them unless you have an automatic start but those get expensive fast. They also are notoriously unreliable. If you forget about adding oil you can destroy your machine. Little things turn into big problems. Every time something goes wrong you not only have to pay for it, you have to get it to the guy that can fix it. Did I mention the noise? If you are the only one in your neighbourhood with a generator everyone hates you. If everyone has one the place ends up sounding like dueling generators. Many parts of Anguilla will be using generator power for months to come. It is frustrating and stressful. We are passing out free solar lights to folks with no power. Generous people that don't live here donated so we could get boxes of these lights. Now at least the house is not dark. But they have no ability to keep food cold, water is a nightmare and no fan. And it is hot and still and probably will be for another month. Many of them don't have transportation so how do they get water and food. On Anguilla people tend to help people. Small community means smaller problems but it is easy to see why a place with a large population could have a crisis situation for so long.

Hurricane Gonzalo Oct. 13, 2014
We were all just minding our business when hurricane Gonzalo showed up and really messed with Anguilla. It wasn't even a hurricane when it arrived, and although we prepared we were not that concerned. Well it built itself into a hurricane right on top of us and destroyed a lot of utility poles and equipment. It left us without power for a week or more. We had been experimenting with solar and had some panels and batteries. Chris fixed up a small solar system, propped the panels up in the driveway and ran a cord into the house. We used it to keep the fridge running and have a fan at night. It was lovely. We had a generator but it was costing a fortune to run it and even though it is quiet, it is still noisy and you simply can not run it all the time. We had a great idea, it blossomed into building our own off grid solar system to supply all of our power. We wanted to just do grid tied solar but the utility was against it, they were so against it that they would charge us as much to export the power as to import the power. So we decided we would make the investment, (it is not cheap) and supply our own power. We never looked back. Every month we don't pay the utility we are getting paid back for our system. Gonzalo happened in October and by April we were off grid.

My Idea
Since Anguilla has a small population and many single family homes, I think that folks could install a simple 2 kw system on their homes. It might not supply the entire house but it would make them self reliant in the event of a power outage. If people would consider purchasing a small solar system now, installing it on their house and use it to run a constant load such as the refrigerator and some ceiling fans and lights, when we get a power outage situation, those items would continue to run. The items could be wired into the solar system directly. They would run on them all the time even when the utility is working. The rest of the house would continue to run on the utility. This would solve the generator problem. Instead of a generator to run a much needed fridge and lights, the solar system would do that. The solar panels could be removed in the event of a storm and replaced when the danger had passed. If you did buy a generator you could buy a much smaller one and just use it to run a water pump and charge the batteries if it is a cloudy day, solar only works when the sun shines but the charged batteries work all the time. In time you might consider a larger system but 2 kw will do a lot to help you after a storm or a power outage.
Just a thought.

Generator or Off Grid Solar?

Hurricane season approaches and Anguilla gets hurricanes. It is a fact of life and because our electric lines are above ground, we often lose power, maybe for days or weeks or even months at a time (remember Hurricane Luis?). This can be a bad situation for people who live and work here and don't have a way to generate their own power.
What can be done?

Fossil Fuel Generators

First thing people always think about and figure out a way to buy is a fossil fuel generator. They come in all sizes and there are several ways to fuel them.

Propane Generator

If you have a big house and you live in an urban setting, having a propane generator is really the way to go. They are quiet and can run for a long period of time.  Price for a 7kW propane generator is about $3,000.00 US
Propane is available on the island.
It must be delivered. Make sure you stock up before the storm.

Diesel Generator

The next best option is diesel. Not nearly as quiet and it is messy. You must fill the tank. You must buy and haul the diesel and you must change the oil and if you don't service your generator it will soon fail.
Diesel generators also come in various sizes. If you get a small one and expect it to run your entire house, it will fail. That's a lot of money to spend for disappointment. You must understand what you need, how much you can afford to spend and then sort out your power load to accommodate the generator.
The 6 KVA Launtop in the photo cost $1495. US.
It might run a small house but not a large house and in short 3 hour run times.

Gasoline Generator

The last and worst option is the gasoline generator. They are not efficient, they are expensive to run and they are dangerous. Dealing with gasoline at the station where you must purchase it and at home where you must pour it into your generator is messy and dangerous. There are rules to follow for safety but people tend to ignore them when they are in an emergency situation such as a power outage after a storm. They also require oil and maintenance.
A 5 KWH generator holds 5.5 imperial gallons. The generator  will run for 9 hours  but it is not recommended as it will reduce the life of your generator.
We do not sell gasoline generators. They are noisy, messy, dangerous and inefficient.

Generators are used for emergency situations and not much else. It sits in your garage or back room or under a tarp until that moment when you must fuel it up and turn it on. Forgetting that much needed maintenance may lead to disappointment when you need your generator most.

One thing to remember when using a fossil fuel generator is that at some point you have to turn it off. People generally do this at night and that is OK except that much  needed fan can not run because you have no power. Having power if only to run a fan at night is important after a hurricane. The air is still and hot and you need to sleep.

Solar Generated Power

Off-grid solar system

The smart option for Anguilla is a solar generated system. 2 KW system $5,000.US

This is fairly new to the market. An off-grid solar system. They too come in many sizes and they require batteries. Unlike any of the power generators mentioned above, solar power generation requires very little maintenance and no re-fueling. They are basically a self contained unit that creates and stores power all day long as long as the sun shines.
So…you install your solar panels. Or, if you don't want to keep your system running all the time you place your solar panels in a clear to the sun area facing south, hook it up and let the batteries charge. Depending on the size of the system you can choose to either hook your system into your electrical panel or run extension leads to the items you wish to run such as a refrigerator and lights. The system will run your items all day long using the sun as power and at night the batteries which have been charging all day will continue to keep the power coming. All you do is make sure the system is running, keep your batteries topped up with battery water (once a month) and let the sun do all the work. The inverter that comes with the system turns the suns energy into electric power. There is no re-fueling or changing the oil. There is no maintenance except tending to the batteries. If you keep your system safe and dry it will just keep running. The solar panels are made to be outside in the sun free of obstructions such as trees or buildings that block the sun. That is about it for a solar powered generating system.

How do you get emergency power?

Diesel

Gasoline

Cost of Power Generation

Diesel and gasoline generators require fuel and oil. On Anguilla we use the imperial gallon.
1 gal. US = 1.2009 Imperial gal.
Diesel Fuel
In Anguilla we pay $13.21 EC per gallon for diesel fuel. It will cost approximately $92.47 EC for 7 hours of run time on your diesel generator.
Gasoline
We pay a little less than $14 EC for an imperial gallon of gasoline.
A 5 KWH gasoline generator holds 5.5 imperial gallons. It will cost $126.00 EC for 9 hours run time.
Propane

100 gal, container

A propane generator requires at least one 100 gal. tank for proper operation. At $16.00 EC per gallon that is $1600.00 EC to fill the tank. 10 hours run time will require 7.3 gallons. About $81.00 EC a day.

Solar
The cost of solar generation is free. After your purchase the solar system the sun charges your batteries and it doesn't charge you for charging your system. The only time you lose power is when the batteries run out and if you plan careful and pay attention you should always have power especially for important things like your fridge and a fan.

The math is simple...if we have an outage for 5 days the cost to run your house on a propane generator is $405.00 for 10 hours a day. The cost for a diesel is $462.35 for 7 hours a day. The cost for a gasoline generator is $630.00 for 9 hours a day. The sun is free.
Prices of fossil fuels is subject to change. The sun is not, let's hope it doesn't get a union.

Things to consider when using fossil fuel generators:

Do not let your generator run out of fuel.
You must wait until the generator is cool before refueling.
It is not recommended to run a generator all day and all night. It is recommended to run it for 3 hours at a time, then rest and refill.
Do not run your generator in an enclosed area, it is dangerous and could be deadly.
When you turn off your generator you lose all power to your home.
A generator may take 2 quarts of oil or more so keep it handy.  Don't forget you also need oil filter and an air filter.

Propane generators require propane fuel. It is highly recommended that you have at least one 100 gallon tank for proper operation of your generator. This tank can not be refilled by taking it to the propane dealer, the dealer comes to your house to refill this tank. These generators also require a yearly service by a qualified propane generator technician.
Running a generator that requires fossil fuel will run your house in an emergency. But it is costly and continues to cost for the entire time you are using it. If you do not maintain your generator it will fail. Maintaining a generator involves service and starting even when not in use. If you do not do this your generator will fail when you need it most.

Solar Generated Power

Let's say you decide to try creating your emergency power using solar. A storm is coming so you pull out your solar panels and set them up. At this time it is not necessary to connect your inverter to your appliances or your transfer switch. You are simply topping up your batteries.

Solar panel on roof.

The storm arrives and your regular power goes down. You have now connected your inverter and stored your batteries in a safe place.  You have power because your batteries are charged. When the storm is over you place your solar panels in the sun and recharge your batteries. Since your appliances are already connected they will continue to run. They will run all day because the sun is shining and at the same time your batteries are charging so you have power for night time use. And just because the sky may be overcast does not mean your solar system will not keep charging. It may be at a reduced rate but you have all day. Keep an eye on your inverter for information on the state of charge of your batteries. That is all there is to it.
You do not have to refuel the system.
You do not have to change oil or filters.
It requires no maintenance except keeping the batteries topped up with battery water.
When you are done using your solar system you can pack it away until the next storm but why would you? Why not leave it running to power important items in your house? You will be saving money and using your system so it can pay you back for the money you spent.
It sounds pretty simple. The Caribbean has a great resource we are not using. The sun can help us so much in getting away from the use of fossil fuels, protecting our environment and saving us money.

Other Solar Storm Solutions

Another solution in dealing with a no power situation in a storm is a smaller version of an off-grid system. This will get your through the storm with the ability to charge your phone and have some lights. They are a great way to have a little comfort in a difficult situation.

Keep a few emergency lights on hand so you can carry them around the dark house. They have their own solar panel built in and give off enough light to use on the kitchen table for dinner. Great for the kids so they have a bedside light. 

They beat candles as there is no danger of fire.

Anguilla has more sun than anything else. It creates an environment that people love during the winter months and during the summer can make this place almost impossible to live in but what about if we think about it in a different way? What about if we use the sun to produce our energy needs. It will save us money. It will stop the use of fossil fuels that pollute our island. It will make our island more popular for people that consider the benefits of solar energy as opposed to fossil fuels.
Solar power can make Anguilla a powerful place.

Sunshine Shack Goes Solar!

Sunshine Shack on Rendezvous Bay

Anguilla just turned off their generator. Why, you might ask... well, Chef and owner Garvey asked Comet Solar to install an off-grid solar system to power his popular beach bar.

Now, when you are chilling out and listening to tunes, you won't be annoyed by the constant drone of the gas powered generator. You won't smell it either! Instead, the sunshine that makes the trip down the beach worthwhile, will also be powering his beachbar.

Comet Solar completed the install yesterday and since then the sun has been supplying the entire place with the electricity he needs to keep the tunes mellow and the beer cold.

"I really did not want to run electric lines out to the beach and spoil the view"  Garvey explained, "Now that I have the ability to store energy for nighttime use and have power during the day to run the business, I am ready to go." 

Chris Mason of Comet Solar designed an inexpensive off-grid solar system that will supply him with the power needed without costing an arm and a leg. Installation was quick and easy. After measuring the beach bar's power usage, Chris suggested a 2 KW system with 4 batteries and an inverter. The system was installed in less than a day and Garvey's solar solution started making power immediately. In future if his needs increase, more batteries and panels can be added. 

Anguilla has  plenty of sunshine so it is fitting that a beach bar on Anguilla named Sunshine Shack is powered by the sun. 

Go Garvey!