Haiti’s landmark renewable energy transition is moving one step closer to reality, as access improvement works get underway at the Mont Fleury site earmarked for the new Jacmel photovoltaic solar power plant. This progress comes on the heels of the recent construction contract signing for the project, which stands as one of the Caribbean nation’s most ambitious renewable energy investments in recent years.
Joseph Almathe Pierre Louis, Haiti’s Minister of Public Works, Transport and Communications (MTPTC), has formally directed engineering teams to accelerate upgrades to key road sections leading to the project site. The Southeast Departmental Directorate (DDSE-Jacmel) is providing technical oversight and support for the infrastructure works, which serve a dual purpose: clearing the way for smooth construction of the solar facility and delivering long-awaited connectivity improvements for local residents in Mont Fleury, the sixth communal section of Jacmel.
As the official project owner, MTPTC is overseeing strict quality controls and regular progress monitoring for the entire initiative. The project is backed by more than $17 million in financing from the World Bank, disbursed through Haiti’s flagship *Renewable Energy for All* (SREP) program, an initiative designed to expand affordable, reliable access to electricity across the country.
The construction contract was awarded to ESD Engineering Service S.R.L., a Dominican-based international engineering firm with extensive experience in large-scale energy infrastructure. The company is tasked with delivering a fully completed, turnkey facility equipped with cutting-edge clean energy technology. Key components of the finished plant will include a 4 megawatt solar generation capacity (with a guaranteed minimum output of 3.35 megawatts), a 6 megawatt-hour lithium-ion battery energy storage system (BESS) to store excess power for low-sun periods, and comprehensive grid expansion works. These upgrades include the installation of roughly 4 kilometers of new low-voltage power lines and 7 kilometers of 23 kV medium-voltage lines to connect the facility to the national grid.
A standout feature of the project is its advanced grid-forming technology, a system engineered to maintain consistent voltage and frequency stability across Haiti’s electrical grid. This capability means the plant will continue to deliver reliable power even if the nation’s existing thermal power facilities shut down unexpectedly, or during extended periods of low sunlight. The technology addresses one of the biggest longstanding challenges facing Haiti’s fragile energy sector: persistent grid instability and widespread outages.
Construction of the solar power plant is scheduled to take 13 months, with work kicking off in February 2026 and commercial operations on track to launch by March 2027. Beyond boosting generation capacity, the project is expected to set a precedent for future renewable energy investment in Haiti, helping the nation reduce its dependence on expensive imported fossil fuels and expand access to electricity for underserved communities across the southeast region.