Solar panels have been installed on Nonsuch Island to power equipment on the reserve.The panels, unveiled yesterday by Environment Minister Sylvan Richards, were donated by the Ascendant Group. They installed the panels with the assistance of the Ministry of Public Works.Mr Richards said: “I am told that the last time Nonsuch had power was in the middle of 2003 when a new solar power array was installed. Unfortunately, within weeks Hurricane Fabian had blown through and destroyed it.“For the last ten years Nonsuch has had to rely on noisy portable generators to power any activity in the reserve. However today I am extremely proud to announce that Nonsuch ‘has lights’.”The Minister said the new solar array was designed to be easily unbolted to prevent the panels from suffering the fate as the panels destroyed a decade ago.And rather than having a negative visual impact, he said the panels will add to the educational value of the reserve by demonstrating sustainable and clean energy.“This project is essential in allowing Nonsuch to meet its mission to not only provide a sanctuary to Bermuda’s endangered species, but also to utilise new and innovative technologies to bring the wonders of Nonsuch to the internet,” Mr Richards said.“Wildlife cameras, like the recently announced Cahow cam, can now be placed in unobtrusive ways and powered through this new solar system. These will have a minimum impact on the wildlife but a maximum exposure to schoolchildren and overseas tourists.”Michael Daniel, senior vice-president of Ascendant Group Ltd said the 16 panels installed on the site work with a battery instillation to provide a consistent energy supply.“The combined system is designed to provide continuous, secure power,” Mr Daniel said. “We are on a quite remote location, being off the grid, so in many ways this system is very, very unique in Bermuda as it provides constant remote power.“We are very proud to continue our support on Nonsuch Island through Conservation Services. We greatly believe in this vision, and we are very much behind it.”Government Conservation Officer Jeremy Madeiros gave Mr Daniels and Mr Richards a tour of the Island, detailing how Nonsuch was over decades transformed into a “living museum”.He also showed the Minister a pair of nesting Longtails, man-made Cahow burrows and several of the indigenous Bermuda species that live on the 15-acre reserve.