Plans for a new, large scale solar power plant were unveiled yesterday, promising an alternative to a proposed expansion of Belco.Tim Madeiros, CEO and operations director for Sol Invictus, said their proposal could also create 200 jobs during its construction, 95 percent of which would be filled by Bermudians.The proposal is the latest of several solar developments suggested for the same space, a 56-acre section of LF Wade International Airport known as “the finger” (see sidebar).Detailing the project yesterday, Mr Madeiros said the proposal consists of a 27-megawatt ground mounted solar power system with 83,000 state-of-the-art solar panels capable of producing 44.7 gigawatt hours annually.Belco has said that Bermuda used 651 gigawatt hours in 2010, but energy usage has fallen since then. The company has announced plans to built a new North Power Station containing three 14-megawatt diesel engines to replace engines currently working beyond their life expectancy.But Mr Madeiros said the solar plant being proposed would eliminate that need.“Not only will this project eliminate the need for an additional fossil fuel electricity plant to be built, but it will also be producing clean renewable energy, resulting in a positive impact on our environment,” Mr Madeiros said.He estimated the cost of the proposal at between $200 million and $300 million, but he explained that the cost and size of the project would depend on how much land they are permitted to use.Mr Madeiros said each of the panels would be stationary, facing south to maximise exposure to the sun. Asked about the visual impact, he said the panels may be visible from the Causeway or Tucker's Town, but a line of foliage would surround the site.He also noted that the panels intended for the project each carry a 25-year warranty on both power output and workmanship.The proposal would also include a battery system, which would allow electricity to be released into the energy grid at a steady rate.“When clouds cover the solar panels, their energy production temporarily decreases,” he said. “However, the battery bank will keep the energy output constant to service Bermuda's energy demands.“As and when the energy stored in the battery decreases to a preset threshold, it will automatically send a message instructing Belco to start an additional engine so that energy is available as needed.”He said the batteries that would be used have a life expectancy of seven to nine years, and are 99 percent recyclable.Mr Madeiros said Sol Invictus has been in talks with both Government and Belco. While the project may seem to be in competition with Belco, Mr Madeiros said that both parties have something to gain from the proposal.“A lot of [Belco's] costs are associated with generating electricity. They have extra generators running every day. That's called a spinning reserve. It's a backup that constantly runs.“They still own the grid. They can buy electricity from independent providers and the sell it on. They make some money on that service.”And while running a diesel engine requires the constant investment in fuel, he said solar panels require little capital after the initial purchase. As a result, he said renewable energy projects could help to keep energy bills from rising further.“The sunshine that falls on our shores is one of Bermuda's long-standing natural resources, and we feel that it is Bermudians who should benefit socially, economically and environmentally from this resource,” Mr Madeiros said.Stuart Hayward, chairman of the Bermuda Environmental Sustainable Taskforce (BEST), said: “BEST supports the concept of renewable energy. We are not endorsing any particular product, but of the concept we are supportive.”And Greenrock President Judith Landsberg said solar power makes a lot of sense for Bermuda, and the organisation is delighted to have a proposal for such a large scale project.Minister of Environment, Planning and Infrastructure Strategy Marc Bean said the Government welcomes plans to create renewable energy resources in Bermuda, and the application falls in line with the objectives of the Energy White Paper.“Energy sustainability is an issue we take very seriously on this Island, and we are committed to facilitating progress through private industry,” Mr Bean said.“Furthermore, the addition of 200 Bermudian jobs in the current economy is very welcome.”A Belco spokeswoman said: “Belco has stated that we consider 'the finger' to be the best potential site for a large-scale solar energy installation in Bermuda.“We would certainly support Government issuing a Request for Proposals to develop the site and would be pleased to work with the vendor that wins the contract.”Airport general manager Aaron Adderley said in a statement: “As part of its master planning for the future, the LF Wade International Airport has identified a partial tract of land on what is often referred to as 'the finger', as a potential site for renewable energy production that would enable the airport to become self sufficient with its power consumption.“The interest expressed by Sol Invictus for the development of a solar energy plant is merely one of many that has been shared with Airport Operations.“Until such time that we move forward with the issuance of a formal Request For Proposal, it would be remiss of us to even conclude that solar energy production is the most preferred and viable option to pursue.“There could be a number of different alternative energy proposals to consider and we'll formally do so, once the RFP process has commenced.”