Siemens Energy is to deliver a comprehensive energy solution to modernise the Caribbean’s largest cruise port in Nassau, Bahamas. The scope includes power generation, interconnection to the national grid, and ship-to-shore electrification. This initiative will be executed through five contracts totalling $65 million. It will replace diesel-powered generation on board docked cruise ships with cleaner energy sources, cutting CO2 emissions by up to 140 000 tons annually.
At the heart of the installation is a flexible combined cycle gas-fired power plant, composed of an SGT-800 gas turbine, together with an SST-300 steam turbine and what is called ‘tailored thermal design engineering’, a heat recovery steam generator. The plant is to be connected to the Bahamas’ national grid, when it will enhance energy stability and benefit more than 200 000 residents, as well as the 5 million tourists who visit Nassau each year. The system is designed to manage grid fluctuations, while boosting efficiency, delivering a more reliable energy supply. With the capacity to simultaneously power up to six cruise ships, the new infrastructure marks a milestone in the Caribbean’s energy transition.
Hurricane belt
Located in the Atlantic hurricane belt, the Bahamas face growing risks from climate change. The new solution is engineered for resilience, capable of withstanding high-intensity hurricanes while maintaining a secure electricity supply from the cruise port to the national grid via an infrastructure that includes a power transformer and gas insulated substations, providing the ability to expand connections to the grid in the future.
An advanced control and digitalisation system, Omnivise T3000, will be implemented, along with medium- and low-voltage auxiliary electrical systems integrated into pre-assembled electrical and control centres (E-houses). These E-houses significantly reduce construction and commissioning times at both the power generation plant and the cruise port. They are specifically designed for marine environments and engineered to withstand Category 5 hurricanes with wind speeds of up to 320 km/h. The equipment is to be manufactured and assembled at Siemens Energy facilities in Sweden, China, Spain, and Brazil.
