Eight Rivers solar park damaged by Hurricane Melissa

What happened

The Jamaica Gleaner reported that Interenergy Group said it would rebuild the Eight Rivers Solar Park in Westmoreland after the facility sustained catastrophic damage from Hurricane Melissa, described as a record Category 5 storm that battered western and southern parishes. The published extract does not state the date of the damage, the capacity affected, or how much of the park was lost.

Contributing factors

Hurricane Melissa, a Category 5 storm. No other cause is reported in the available extract.

Lessons learned

1. Solar parks in hurricane-prone regions need designs and maintenance that account for extreme wind.
2. After a major storm, operators should assess damage quickly and plan how the site will be rebuilt.
3. Early public reports should, when available, record which parts of the plant were damaged so other operators can learn.

Source

pressreader.com