An award for best utility-scale project in the Caribbean has gone to the island’s first large solar power farm, at LF Wade International Airport.

Walter Roban, the Deputy Premier, who is in Miami attending the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum, also announced he had been selected for the Caribbean Energy Leadership MVP Award.

Mr Roban said he was “incredibly humbled” as he took the leadership accolade at the fourth annual CREF in Miami.

“Being passionate about protecting our environment and recognised with this award is a lifetime achievement and highlight of my career,” he said.

Mr Roban also received the CREF Industry Awards for the airport solar plant “on behalf of Bermuda and our partners at Saturn Power”.

The six-megawatt plant at the airport, operating on the disused runway by Castle Harbour known as the “Finger”, has been fully operational since November, and is to be handed over to private management from Saturn Power, the Canadian-based renewable energy company.

Mr Roban said the award for the project recognised “excellence across clean-energy programmes in the Caribbean”, with criteria including innovative development, value, and social and environmental impact.

He said that while the separate, MVP award bore his name, it was also testament to the Bermudians working alongside the company to accomplish the project.

The facility, expected to generate between 8 and 13 per cent of the island’s baseload energy, was submitted for CREF approval this year.

Doug Warner, chief executive of Saturn, said the company was “honoured” at the award for the utility scale project, bringing “a meaningful sense of both personal and professional pride at what we, as a team, have been able to accomplish”.

Mr Roban also affirmed the Government’s commitment to the Green Energy Fund to attract investment for more solar energy for lower-income residents, saying a document was in the works to go before Cabinet for approval in this parliamentary session.

• UPDATE: This article has been amended to make it clear that two awards were made.