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April 2012 Issue

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PUBLICATIONS FROM ACROSS THE REGION

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CARICOM Energy Programme Quarterly Newsletter

Published by the CARICOM Energy Desk

JAN-MAR 2012

PAST ISSUES

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Caribbean Energy Information System (CEIS)
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Tel : 876-927-1771-4
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This is a Scientific Research Council and Caribbean Energy Information System media partnership event.

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Watch Live Stream from Opening Ceremony of  the Sustainable Energy Conference & Exposition

The University community is invited to watch the live stream of the Opening Ceremony of the UTech/German Embassy Sustainable Energy Conference and Exposition scheduled for today, May 16 at 5:30 pm.  Streaming is facilitated by the Learning Technologies Support Unit (LTSU) via www.utechjamaica.edu.jm/live

2012 Projects of the Year Awards

The Projects of the Year Award Nominations ARE NOW OPEN!

The awards will now be given in a new location, plus, we have expanded our reach worldwide!

The Renewable Energy World Network Editors are pleased to announce that our Projects of the Year Award Ceremony will now take place in December, 2012 along with the Power Engineering Projects of the Year at the now co-located Renewable Energy World Conference and Expo and Power-Gen International — the largest trade show for the traditional power generating industry .

PLUS, we are no longer limiting the scope of the awards to North America. Now, any project, from any part of the world is eligible to receive an award.

To be eligible to receive an award, projects must have come online between August 1st, 2011 and July 31st, 2012.

Nominations are being accepted through August 31, 2012.

NOMINATE NOW!

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/awards/2012

Governor-General, His Excellency, the Most Hon. Sir Patrick Allen, has said that the Government will be redoubling its efforts to resolve the country’s energy problems.

“The high price of energy has negatively affected our economic performance over many years. The significant rise in oil prices has not been matched by similar increases in the value of our country’s exports and has had a devastating effect on our economy…as a consequence of this enormous challenge to our economic viability, the Government will lead the drive to solve our energy problem,” he said.

The Governor-General was delivering the Throne Speech at Gordon House on Thursday to mark the start of the new Parliamentary year.

He said the attack on the energy problem will be focused on there placement of fuel oil with natural gas and or/coal for the bauxite/alumina and electricity-generating sectors;inculcating an ethic of conservation with the state leading by example; and ensuring greater efficiency in the distribution of electricity.

He further noted that support for the use of indigenous renewable resources such as water, wind and sunlight, as well as the conversion of waste to energy, will be pursued.

The government will also seek to rationalise the transportation system over the medium to longer-term, as a means of reducing the use of fuel.

The Achieving Sustainable Energy for All in Small Island Developing States Conference concluded yesterday with the adoption of the “Barbados Declaration” calling for universal access to modern and affordable renewable energy services, while protecting environment, ending poverty and creating new opportunities for economic growth.

The declaration, adopted just weeks before the UN Conference on Sustainable Development ‘Rio+20’, includes an annex with voluntary commitments of 20 Small Island Developing States (SIDS) to take actions toward providing universal access to energy, switching to renewable energy and reducing dependence on fossil fuels.
The host country announced their plan to increase the share of renewable energy in Barbados to 29 percent of all electricity consumption by 2029.

“By 2029 we expect that total electricity costs would have been cut by US$283.5 million and CO2 emissions would have been reduced by 4.5 million tons,” said Prime Minister Freundel Stuart of Barbados. “We also envisage an overall 22 percent reduction in projected electricity consumption based on the use of energy efficiency measures.”

The commitments of other small developing island states include:

• Maldives committed to achieve carbon neutrality in the energy sector by year 2020
• Marshall Island aim to electrify all urban households and 95 percent of rural outer atoll households by 2015
• Mauritius committed to increasing the share of renewable energy – including solar power, wind energy, hydroelectric power, bagasse and landfill gas – to 35 percent or more by 2025
• Seychelles committed to produce 15 percent of energy supply from renewable energy by 2030

The declaration recognizes the importance of the UN Secretary General’s Sustainable Energy for All initiative and that today’s energy issues cannot be resolved unilaterally but rather through open dialogue and cooperation.

The declaration states that the delegates “Remain deeply concerned that most SIDS are highly dependent on imported oil and other fossil fuels for transport and electricity generation and this is a major source of economic vulnerability for SIDS. This leaves SIDS highly exposed to oil-price volatility.”

The Barbados Declaration emphasizes that there are commercially feasible options in many small island states for providing energy such as wind, solar, geothermal, and oceans energy.

“However, these technologies must be made accessible, affordable and adaptable to the needs and particular circumstances of SIDS communities,” states the declaration. “In this regard, we strongly urge the international community, particularly developed countries, to ensure the provision of financial resources, technology transfer and capacity building to SIDS.”

The two-day conference brought together more than 100 heads of state, ministers, leading development experts, civil society activists, business executives and UN officials from 39 countries from the Caribbean, the Pacific, Indian Ocean, and Africa, that belong to the SIDS group.

“Our global presence, expertise in capacity building, and extensive development finance experience allow us to help small island development states in their transformation toward sustainable energy for all, by supporting them to develop capacities to attract investments,” said Michelle Gyles-McDonnough, UN Resident Coordinator and UNDP Resident Representative for Barbados and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

The Declaration reiterates “that the outcomes of the Rio+20 Conference must be ambitious and convey the urgency of fully embracing the sustainable development agenda including the fulfillment of all commitments related to SIDS.”

To access the Declaration, visit: http://on.undp.org/J2QV1g

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For more information please contact:

In Bridgetown, Janine Chase, 1 246 467-6007, janine.chase@undp.org

In New York, Stanislav Saling, Stanislav.saling@undp.org
___________________________________________________

About the conference:
The Barbados Conference is organized jointly by the Government of Barbados and UNDP with support from Australia, Norway, UN Foundation, the British High Commission in Barbados, the Organisation of American States, SIDS DOCK and Archers Hall Design Centre.

Other leading government officials and development experts participating in the Barbados discussions include Prime Minister Henry Puna, the Cook Islands; Senator The Hon. Darcy Boyce, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Energy, Barbados; Hon. Dennis Lowe, Minister of Environment and Drainage, Barbados (on Rio+20); Hon. Julian Robinson, Minister of State, Ministry of Energy and Mining and ICT, Jamaica; Hon. Joy Grant, Minister of Energy, Science and Technology and Public Utilities, Belize; Hon. Nazim Burke, Minister of Finance, Planning, Economy, Energy, and Cooperatives, Grenada; and Hugh Sealey, Ph.D., Energy and Sustainable Development Adviser, Grenada.

Conference topics include: “Ensuring Affordable and Reliable Access to Modern Energy Services in SIDS by 2030”; “Doubling the Rate of Improvement in Energy Efficiency in SIDS by 2030”; “Doubling the Share of Renewables in the Energy Mix in SIDS by 2030”; “SIDS DOCK – The SIDS Sustainable Energy Partnership Mechanism”; “Enabling Environment and Financing Sustainable Energy for All in SIDS”; and consider renewable energy options for the Caribbean proposed by UNDP field office and their replicability for other SIDS. The conference will also mark the SIDS roll out of the 2012 International Year of Sustainable Energy for All; and the conference will host a technology fair featuring renewable energy solutions for small island developing states.

A renewable energy project in Tokelau, supported by UNDP, converts solar-generated power to electricity. (Photo: UN/Ariane Rummery)

Pacific Island Countries are among the most petroleum-dependent nations and territories in the world.  However, Tokelau, a group of 3 small atolls in the South Pacific Ocean, will be the first to meet its electricity needs entirely through renewable energy by the end of 2012.

Tokelau has a total land area of 10 square kilometres and a population of around 1400.  Its small size, isolation and lack of natural resources are all restraints on its development.  Worse, it has to spend approximately NZ$1million (approx. US$ 800,000) annually on imported fossil fuels.

In 2001, the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) started to work with the Taupulega’s – the village councils on each atoll – in the area of sustainable energy.  With funding and technical assistance from UNDP, the first Tokelau National Energy Policy and Strategic Action Plan was endorsed by the government in 2004.  Its primary objective was to make Tokelau energy independent through the use of renewable energy and energy efficiency measures.  In partnership with France, New Zealand and UNESCO, UNDP supported various preparatory work including resource assessment, feasibility and design studies and the implementation of a solar system pilot demonstration. The organization contributed around US$450,000 and significant technical support during 11 years. Recently the Government of Tokelau succeeded in leveraging approximately NZ$8.5 million (US$ 6.8 million) in grants and soft loans from New Zealand for the project.

The new solar plant is planned to become operational in September 2012..  Around 4,032 solar panels and batteries will be installed across all the three atolls of Tokelau, making the plant one of the largest standalone solar system in the world. The plant will provide 24-hour high quality electricity supply for all islanders, eliminating diesel use, and even produce surplus electricity to allow Tokelaunans to expand on their energy use.

During periods of prolonged cloud cover generators that run on coconut oil will supply power and simultaneously recharge the battery bank.

This hybrid  solar-coconut oil system will enable Tokelau to be self-reliant for its electricity needs and be more energy secure, and set it on a carbon-free development path.  It will also create employment opportunities and help the local population generate additional income.  More importantly, the amount spent annually on the import of fossil fuel will be spared to support social benefits for the islanders.

Tokelau’s ambitious goal could not be achieved without the sustained commitment of the government supported by its development partners, including UNDP.  The government’s long-term determination has been pivotal in overcoming barriers along the way – such as the 25-30 hours boat journey from Samoa to Tokelau to transport materials and other resources.

Tokelau will be the first Small Island Developing State to obtain 100% renewable energy by 2012, while Tuvalu and Cook Islands aim at 2020.

#The Government-funded Bahamas Technical and Vocational Institute (BTVI) will host a specialist laboratory that will facilitate the training of Bahamians in the installation, and maintenance, of solar photovoltaic (PV) system.

#The training operation will be run via a partnership between the Jamaica-based Vector Technology Institute and Alternative Power Sources (Bahamas), a Bahamian renewable energy provider, the goal being to ‘Bahamianise’ and train a Bahamian labour force that will support the expansion of this nation’s fledgling renewable energy industry.

#Guilden Gilbert, vice-president of Alternative Power Sources (Bahamas), said: “Our goal as a company is to have a 100 per cent Bahamian workforce, and the only way to do that is to have a trained workforce. The goal for us is to create an educated workforce, and from that hopefully we will create employment.”

#Alternative Power Sources also has operations in Bermuda and Jamaica, the latter nation being where it first partnered with the Vector Technology Institute to develop certified renewable energy training courses that were internationally recognised.

#Mr Gilbert added that Alternative Power Sources was installing solar street and garden lighting in a 1,000-home development in Jamaica, and would also seek to provide funds for apprenticeship-type training programmes in the Bahamas as the demand for solar PV systems grew.

#“I think it’s fairly substantial,” Mr Gilbert said of the Bahamas partnership between Alternative Power Sources (Bahamas) and Vector Technology Institute. “This is the first time outside Jamaica. I’m not aware of any other regional jurisdiction that has an in-country certified training course.”

#This, Mr Gilbert added, would enable Bahamian technicians to avoid the extra costs and travel associated with going abroad for training. The BTVI-based course, he said, would qualify Bahamians as Certified PV Installers with internationally-recognised certification from the Electronic Technicians Association.

#Dr Iva Dahl, BTVI’s manager, said the solar PV training programme would enable Bahamians to “become qualified in the installation and maintenance of solar systems”.

#Training would cover both the theoretical and practical issues of solar PV installation, she added, and the Vector Technology Institute and Alternative Power Sources (Bahamas), through their existing collaboration in Jamaica, were “bringing that model to the Bahamas”.

#Dr Wayde Marr, the Vector Technology Institute’s executive chairman, said its Alternative Power Sources (Bahamas) partner would establish a laboratory at BTVI where the practical training would be held. It is due to be set-up in time for the 2012-2013 educational year begin.

#He explained that it was a short-term course, lasting 40 hours only, because it was targeted at the likes of electricians, plumbers and roofing installers – professional tradesmen who were either qualified, or knew about, electrical installation.

#“It’s a professional development course for persons interested in widening their horizons, and going into solar installation and maintenance,” Dr Marr said.

#Dr Dahl added that while the solar PV course had yet to be widely marketed, it had attracted interest from participants on BTVI’s existing solar technology course. The aim, she added, was to keep the solar PV class sizes small.

#Emphasising the importance of renewable energy to the Bahamas’ economic future, Dr Marr added: “Our over-reliance on fossil fuels is one issue that governments all around the world are having to face.

#“We’re looking at a depleting resource, and a fairly unstable resource in terms pricing…… We have this renewable which is abundant. The sun shines on the Bahamas day in, day out. All countries are looking at sustainability.”

#Dr Marr said embracing renewable energy was vital not just for countries to achieve a comparative advantage, but comparative “parity”.

#Mr Gilbert, meanwhile, added that the Ministry of Works preferred to have certified installers and licensed electricians working with solar water heater and solar PV systems.

#Some 19 solar water heaters had been installed in homes in the Ardastra Gardens subdivision as part of an Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) funded project. Alternative Power Sources (Bahamas) had provided the initial training for the contractors and plumbers who installed them.