Sustainable Energy &Development News

VOL.1 MARCH 2014

THE MONTHLY REVIEW OF SUSTAINABLE ENERGY & DEVELOPMENT NEWS IN THE CARIBBEAN FROM THE REGION”S LEADING INFORMATION PLATFORMS

IDB Boosts Latin Renewables DriveThe Inter-American Development Bank and the Japan International

Cooperation Agency are extending a scheme to back renewable energy schemes in Central America and the Caribbean. The duo has updated the Co-financing for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (Core)

framework agreement signed in 2012 from $300m to $1bn and made new territories eligible.

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This publication is prepared by the Caribbean Energy Information System

Guyana Pushes Ahead With Hydro Power in Partnership With BrazilThe government of Guyana has partnered with Brazil to begin a pre-

feasibility study of the Upper and Middle Mazaruni areas to determine the potential of hydropower development in the area.

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Sustainable Energy Solutions Could Save Caribbean US$200mHigh energy costs are the Achilles heel of the Caribbean. More than 97

per cent of this region’s electricity is generated from fossil fuels and many islands devote a hefty portion of their GDP to fuel imports.

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What’s Happening Now Across The Region...

MARCH 2014 IN REVIEW BE IN THE KNOW ON RENEWABLE ENERGY

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27-3-2014 || Shale Gas Threatens Renewables RevolutionThe shale gas revolution in the US could turn the tide against the market for renewable energy in Latin American just as governments are focused on uncorking the vast reserves of non-conventional energy in their region. Solar energy and wind power projects abound in Latin America. Read more

CIPORE EVENTS, See All Events

Renewable Energy Latin America & Caribbean

Conference & Expo (RELACCX)

April 24-25, 2014Puerto Rico

Regsa International Conference 2014: Renewable Energy,

Energy Efficiency And Sustainable Development

May 6 - 8, 2014Florianopolis, Santa Catarina,

Brazil

2014 Energy ConferenceJune 9-11 2014

Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Trinidad

Jamaica Alternative Energy Expo 2014

June 23-24, 2014The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel,

Kingston, Jamaica

The University of Technologys’s 3rd International Scientific

ConferenceJune 25 – 27, 2014Kingston, Jamaica

29-3-2014 || Solar SchoolsIn another four months, five primary schools across the island should be outfitted with photovoltaic systems which are expected to reduce their energy bills by 10 to 30 per cent, and could equate to as much as $500 in savings each month. Read more

31-3-2014 || World Energy Council Study Highlights Massive Challenges to the Energy System of Latin America and the Caribbean The Latin America and Caribbean region must optimise its energy supply options nationally and across the region in order to support the needs of its growing economies and increasing population, according to a World Energy Council (WEC) report to be presented today at an event organised by the Colombian member committee of the WEC (COCME). Read more

27-3-2014 || Caribbean Island of Barbados to Get Waste-to-Energy PlantOne day soon the Caribbean island of Barbados will have part of its electricity needs supplied by a waste-to-energy plant. Cahill Energy, based in Guernsey, announced the signing of an agreement with the government of Barbados on March 15 to build and operate a waste-to-energy plant. Read more

21-3-2014 || Taylor Wessing Advises Cahill Energy on Proposed Waste-to-Energy Plant in BarbadosTaylor Wessing has advised Cahill Energy on its historic agreement with the Barbados government to build and operate a waste-to-energy plant on the island. The plant will reportedly provide up to 25 per cent of the island’s needs. Read more

27-3-2014 || Dominica’s Geothermal Exploration Ailed As ‘Exemplary’The Commonwealth of Dominica’s geothermal energy exploration, which commenced in 2011, has been commended by an official of the OECS Secretariat. “In terms of the work that has been done in Dominica, it has been exemplary and I want to say congratulations,” Dr James St. Catherine of the OECS Secretariat said. Read more

18-3-2014 || A Pacific Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy EfficiencyA validation meeting on the establishment of the Pacific Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency got under way in Nadi yesterday (12 March 2014) with 30 participants from the region’s energy sector, government, private sector and non-state organisations in attendance.Read more17-3-2014 || Bank Sees the Light in Solar EnergyThe light of sustainable energy dawned on the people of Cayman Islands after the unveiling of the islands’ largest solar farm was announced last week. The 528 solar panels erected in the company’s parking lot have the ability to power about half of the 200,000-square-foot bank building. Read more

REPORTS

2014 World Energy Issues Monitor

Sustainable Energy and its Use - Challenges to Renewable Energy in

the Caribbean

Jamaica Sustainable Energy Roadmap: Pathways To An

Affordable, Reliable, Low-Emission Electricity System

Climatescope 2014 : New Frontiers for Low-Carbon Energy Investment in Latin America and the Caribbean

Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) Report: Renewable Energy

could power all of Latin America and Caribbean

DOCUMENTS

Jamaica Public Service Company Limited Standard Offer Contract for the Purchase of As-Available

Intermittent Energy from Renewable Energy Facilities up to 100kW - May

2012

JPS Amended and Restated All-Island Electric Licence 2011

Ministry of Natural Resources Policy - Suriname

Framework for the Development of a Renewable Energy Policy - Trinidad

and Tobago

20-3-2014 || Hospital Has Bermuda’s Largest Sun Energy SystemBermuda’s largest solar panel system is on the roof of the new Acute Care Wing of the King Edward VII Memorial Hospital. The state of the art solar plant installed by Bermuda Engineering Co. Ltd (BE Solar) for Paget Health Services comprises nearly 1000 square feet of panels to capture the energy of the sun and use it to heat water. Read more

12-3-2014 || HEART College’s Ray of SunshineHEART College of Construction Services, the former Portmore HEART Academy, should see its next electricity bill cut by about $90,000, thanks to a 2,000 kWh solar energy project commissioned into service at the institution on Thursday. A bank of solar panels has already been installed on the roof of the auditorium and the inverters necessary to complete the system should be installed this week. Read more

14-3-2014 || The Limits of Cuba’s Renewable Energy Sources: CapitalThe Oil Crash, an interesting blog which analyzes and divulges information related to the imminent energy crisis, was created in January 2010. Read more13-3-2014 ||Dominica Completes Drilling of Geothermal WellsDominica”s government said the drilling of wells to produce geothermal energy has been completed, a project which is expected to bring economic benefits to the country.According Energy Minister Rayburn Blackmoore the initial phase of the process has been completed and added that the next phase involves shutting down the wells for a twelve week period to monitor progress on the generation of heat. Read more

19-3-2014 || Westin Dawn Beach Resort St Maarten Completes Solar Energy ProjectA resort in St Maarten is taking the concept of sustainability to the next level. The Westin Dawn Beach Resort & Spa in St Maarten has completed its high-profile solar energy project, meaning it will now be able to use solar energy to produce between six and eight hours of its own power every day during peak hours. Read more

11-3-2014 || Richard Branson: Global Warming Deniers ‘Get Out of Our Way’Virgin CEO Richard Branson said that those who are skeptical of man-made global warming should “get out of our way,” joining the ranks of CEOs lashing out against those opposed to business investments in “sustainability.” Branson made his remarks in the wake of Apple CEO Tim Cook’s telling global warming skeptics to “get out of this stock” if they did not agree with the company’s green investment strategy Read more

4-3-2014 || PDM Cautions That Renewable Energy is ‘Far Off”The Opposition party believes that the total conversion to renewable energy is still a far way off for the Turks and Caicos Islands even as it commends FortisTCI for the recently announced steps towards green power. Read more

7-3-2014 || Study Claims Giant Wind Turbines Could Blow Away HurricanesOver the years, there has been no shortage of nutty notions designed to destroy, disperse, or otherwise defuse the destructive power of approaching hurricanes. Read more

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7-3-2014 || ‘No Fossil Fuels by 2024’ – Minister Demands FortisTCI Goes Green“It is critically important that the Turks and Caicos Islands emulates our Caribbean neighbours, or risks being literally left in the dark.” Those were the damning words of George Lightbourne, Minister of Government Support Services, in a statement to press on the urgency of reducing fossil fuel dependency. Read more

9-3-2014 || PCJ Biofuel Research Favours Chinese Castor BeanThe Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica’s (PCJ) research on oilseeds from three geographical sources as biofuel has so far favoured the Zibo 8 variety of castor bean from China that was grown in St Catherine.PCJ is testing which varieties can be farmed successfully in Jamaica in quantities that can be used as feedstock, under a pilot known as the ... Read more

10-3-2014 || BTVI Conducts Solar Energy CourseWith the mounting costs of electricity bills and the alternative of conserving energy, The Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) has officially recommenced its solar energy program.The renewable energy program was recently reintroduced after an initial offering in 2009 to train a cadre of persons to become skilled solar energy technicians. Read more

11-3-2014 || OUR to Address Concerns of Prospective Renewable Energy Projects FinanciersThe Office of Utilities Regulations (OUR) says it will be meeting with the parties connected to Jamaica’s renewable energy projects in the coming days as it moves to resolve concerns raised by prospective financiers. The OUR says it had drafted power purchase agreements and sent them to respective bidders and the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited in a bid to have them executed before the June 2014 deadline. Read more

5-3-2014 || St Lucia Gov’t Seeking to Establish Regulatory Body for Energy SectorThe St Lucia Government is laying a foundation to facilitate multimillion-dollar investments in the renewable energy sector.The Government has set an ambitious goal to position St Lucia to generate 35 per cent of its electricity from renewable sources like wind, solar and geothermal energy by the year 2020. Read more

3-3-2014 || VIASPACE & Tibbar Report Progress on Giant King Grass Biogas Power Plant on St. Croix– Caribbean’s First Continuously Renewable, Green Energy, Biomass Power PlantVIASPACE Inc. provided an update on the 7 MW Giant King Grass fueled anaerobic digestion power plant being developed by Tibbar Energy USVI, LLC on St. Croix, US Virgin Islands. Tibbar Energy presented their 7MW Biogas Project at a CZM (Coastal Zone Management) Public Hearing on February 27(th) requesting a CZM permit. Read more

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31-3-2014 || Commonwealth Works to Raise Climate Resilience on Global AgendaAs they fine-tune preparations for the Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Conference in Samoa and the United Nations post-2015 development framework meeting in September, Commonwealth states are focusing on getting the international community to pay more attention to the challenges they face. Read more

15-3-2014 || Minister Dorsett Addresses Forum of Environment MinistersMinister of the Environment and Housing, Hon. Kenred Dorsett, traveled to Los Cabos, Mexico this week to attend the 19th Forum for Environmental Ministers in Latin America and the Caribbean. Read more

17-3-2014 || Youth Targeted as Clean Energy AmbassadorsTwo hundred top-level investors, developers, consultants and other professionals are slated to attend the Renewable Energy Latin American & Caribbean Conference and Exhibition (RELACCX 2014) in Puerto Rico from April 24-25, when the regional prospects for clean, renewable energy come under the spotlight. Read more

25-3-2014 || Global Water Demand to Increase by 55 Per Cent by 2050: UN ReportIncreasing demands for fresh water and energy will strain resources in nearly all regions, especially in developing and emerging countries undergoing rapid economic growth, a U.N. report says. Read more

27-3-2014 || Could Unrest in Venezuela Lead to a Greener Caribbean?When it began in 2005, Venezuela’s Petrocaribe energy pact with its Caribbean neighbors was in part intended to help the islands wean themselves from fossil fuels. Nearly a decade later, the Caribbean is starting to accomplish that goal – in spite of the alliance. Read more

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7-3-2014 || SuperChar Kilns Promote SustainabilitySuperChar biochar kilns produced by Carbon Gold, are allowing cacao growers to farm sustainably by slowing environmentally damaging ‘slash and burn’ practices, cutting carbon emissions and adding value to waste stream, the company says. Read more5-3-2014 || GWI Launches ‘Operation Reconnect’Guyana Water Incorporated, GWI, the nation’s supplier of water and sanitation services, has launched a new programme titled ‘Operation Reconnect’ to offer disconnected customers the opportunity to reconnect their service without penalty fees. Read more

11-3-2014|| New Ozone-Destroying Chemicals Discovered in AtmosphereFour new man-made, ozone-destroying chemicals have been discovered in the upper atmosphere, and appear to be slowing the recovery of the ozone hole, according to a new report. Read more

5-3-2014 || Bahamians Combine in Water Plant BidRival Bahamian groups have joined forces to form one combined bid to take over the multi-million dollar Windsor reverse osmosis plant, Tribune Business can reveal, with the Government yet to make a decision on a new operator. Read more

10-3-2014 ||John Kerry Issues Seven Point Climate Change PlanLast week [March 2 - 8] the US Secretary of State issued a new policy guidance to diplomats around the world, commanding all chiefs of mission to make climate a priority. Read more

11-3-2014 || Richard Branson Tells Businesses to Make a Stand Against Climate Change DeniersVirgin Group chairman and founder, Sir Richard Branson, has said businesses should “stand up” to climate change deniers and they should “get out of our way”. Read more

1-3-2014 ||NWC Looking Into Prepaid Water Tank ProgrammeThe National Water Commission (NWC) is giving consideration to an innovative programme, which will see water tanks being provided to householders in drought-prone and difficult to reach communities, which will be filled on a pay-as-you-go or prepaid basis. Read more

13-3-2014 || Caribbean LED business Continues to Improve and ExpandThree years ago when CEO of Caribbean LED lighting (CLL) Jim Reid decided to manufacture LED bulbs in Barbados, he stated many people asked him why. Read more

5-3-2014 ||Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Selects Itron and Tantalus for Advanced Metering InfrastructureItron Inc., a world-leading technology and services company dedicated to the resourceful use of energy and water, and Tantalus, a leading provider of real-time smart grid communications, announced today the U.S. Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority (VIWAPA) ... Read more

13-3-2014 ||Top Provider Slams Landfill ‘Secrecy’A leading waste services provider yesterday slammed the “secrecy” surrounding the Government’s plans for New Providence’s landfill, after a foreign company’s bid to manufacture recycled products in the Bahamas was revealed. Read more

14-3-2014 || Bahamas Waste Gives Masters Students Insight on RecyclingBahamas Waste recently hosted four graduate students, who are currently studying at the Cape Eleuthera Institute (CEI) campus on Eleuthera, to a tour of their recycling facilities in western New Providence. Read more