WILLEMSTAD - On May 16, during an official meeting, Autobusbedrijf Curacao (ABC), Refineria di Kòrsou (RdK), and VDL Groep signed a collaboration agreement. With this agreement, the parties will work together to generate solar energy through a PV Solar Park, which will be constructed by RdK on available land for new developments. The generated energy will be converted into electricity, which can be used, among other things, to charge 6 electric buses within the solar park area. VDL Groep will provide the solar panels, electric buses, vehicle charging installations, batteries, and the Energy Management System associated with it. ABC will integrate these buses into Curacao's Public Transportation system.
With this project, ABC consciously takes a crucial step in the energy transition of Curacao's public transportation. Transforming public transportation to use electricity as an energy source, utilizing sustainable energy instead of fossil fuels, is fully aligned with the current government's ambitions.
The 'E-Mobility' project is one of the first innovative projects that emerged from the study titled "Riba kaminda pa yega na un Living Lab Kòrsou" conducted by TNO upon request from RdK, in close collaboration with various governmental companies (ABC, Aqualectra, Curoil, Selikor), ministries AZ, GMN, MEO, VVRP, Universidat di Kòrsou, and a number of Dutch companies, including VDL. VDL Group is an international industrial company focused on the development, production, and sale of, among other things, sustainable energy storage systems and electric buses.
'E-Mobility' is a so-called 'demo-project,' meaning it serves as an example of innovation realized to ultimately demonstrate that a 'Zero Emission' electric bus system can be implemented independently (off-grid) from the electricity grid in Curaçao. The interest from the Netherlands in this demonstration project is significant because off-grid systems can reinforce the transition to green and sustainable mobility in the Netherlands, helping to prevent congestion in the electrical network.
Curaçao will lead off-grid sustainable mobility.
With this project, Curaçao positions itself as a leader in the field of off-grid sustainable and electric mobility. The results of this innovative project will serve as an example for countries in the kingdom and the region, helping them to realize similar projects as well.