ECCB Commends SKN Fire and Rescue Services for Assistance with Extinguishing Fire at One of its Battery Storage Systems
12 June 2025, Basseterre, Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis – The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) expresses sincere thanks to the Saint Kitts and Nevis Fire and Rescue Services, for its prompt and efficient assistance with containing a fire, which resulted from a lithium-ion battery explosion at one of the two battery storage plants on the ECCB Campus, on 11 June.
The ECCB advises that the fire did not cause harm or injury to any member of staff; damage to the second battery storage container in the same location; or damage to any of the Bank’s buildings.
In addition, the fire did not cause any disruption in the Bank’s operations. The ECCB continues to provide service to its member governments, commercial banks and the people of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union. As a health and safety precaution, staff will work from home for the next two days.
The battery storage system housed 170 lithium-ion batteries, which were used to power the Sir K Dwight Venner building at nights, using the excess solar PV generated electricity from the Bank’s solar canopy park.
As a result of the explosion, the affected battery storage system has been shut down. A representative from the Battery Storage System manufacturer, ELM FieldSight, will visit the ECCB on Friday, 13 June to conduct an assessment and investigate the factors that led to the incident.
The ECCB’s solar project was completed in 2023. The project is part of the Bank’s Greening the Campus initiative and demonstrates its commitment to reducing its carbon footprint and serving as an advocate for renewable energy and climate action. The solar PV system, which converts sunlight into electricity, has a capacity of one megawatt alternating current (AC) of electricity for use on campus and a battery storage capacity of 3.3 megawatt hours. Since inception, the solar plant has contributed to over 3,440,000 lbs of CO2 reduction in emissions and saved the Bank approximately $1.8 million per year in avoided energy costs.
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About the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) was established in October 1983. The ECCB is the Monetary Authority for: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, Commonwealth of Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Christopher (St Kitts) and Nevis, Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.
Media Contact: Shermalon Kirby, Director, Corporate Relations Department
Phone: (869) 465-2537 | Mobile: (869) 662-2561
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Greening of the ECCB Campus: ECCB’s Solar Project
