Undergrounding of the British Virgin Islands Electricity Corporation (BVIEC) Transmission System
A Climate-Resilient Marine Spatial Plan will guide the protection and sustainable use of the Virgin Islands’ marine environment. It will define key zones for conservation, fisheries, recreation, and development—supporting climate resilience while enabling a balanced blue economy.
Introduction
The majority of the Territory’s electrical transmission system, with the exception of the central business district in the capital of Road Town, is above ground. This makes the system highly vulnerable to major hurricanes. For instance, 90-95% of the Territory’s electricity distribution system was destroyed by Category 5 Hurricane Irma in 2017, resulting in a prolonged Territory-wide black out. It took 6 months for the system to be fully restored, leaving multiple communities without power during this period.
The Impact
This project will result in undergrounding of the Territory’s electricity transmission system in all major towns and communities using a phased approach guided by identified strategic priority areas.
The project is expected to significantly increase the resilience of the Territory’s energy infrastructure to major hurricanes, resulting in rapid system restoration following events to support recovery of communities, services and the economy.
The Problem
Hurricanes like Irma leave the territory in prolonged darkness by toppling overhead electrical poles and snapping lines.
The Solution
Undergrounding the entire local distribution network projects critical energy infrastructure from storm damage, ensuring a reliable, modern and resilient power grid.
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