Sustainable Energy & Development News March 2012

Sustainable Energy & Development News

VOL.1 MARCH 2012

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

This publication is prepared by the Caribbean Energy Information System.

Dominica and IFC sign contract on support for geothermal energy development The IFC and Dominica have signed an MOU for technical support and capacity improvements for the continued development of geothermal resources in Dominica. Under the just signed MOU, Dominica is expected to receive US$250,000 in the first instance. Read more High Cost of Diesel Spurs Anguilla’s Renewable Energy-Climate Change Plan Making amendments to legislation that can foster the adoption of renewable energy technology makes up the first phase the government’s renewable energy teams and Castalia are taking.

Recognizing the interrelationship between climate change and energy production, a new policy is being established that links and integrates the two. Read more Lenders see business potential in Renewable Energy lines for homes in Jamaica Communications and other Workers of Jamaica Co-operative Credit Union Limited (C&WJCCU) has joined other lenders offering low-price energy loans, at 9.5 per cent interest per annum, to tap into a market of disaffected Jamaica Public service customers looking to develop alternative power supplies. Read more

MARCH 2012 IN REVIEW BE IN THE KNOW ON RENEWABLE ENERGY

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CIPORE EVENTS, See All Events Workshop:Opportunities of Technological Transfer and Investment in Sustainable Energy in Latin America and the Caribbean April 10-11, 2012 Barbados Power Summit April 16-17, 2012 Going Green Invest Caribbean Now Forum April 18, 2012 Solar Energy International offers Renewable Energy Tour of Cuba April 19-29, 2012 Jamaica Power Sunmit April 19- 20, 2012 Renewable Energy Finance Forum – Latin America and Caribbean (REFF-LAC) April 24-25, 2012 UTECH Energy Expo May 16- 19, 2012

30-3-2012 ||Solar Energy Ideal Option for Many Jamaicans For many Jamaicans, solar energy can prove to be an ideal source of power for homes and businesses. To this end, the Government has been encouraging Jamaicans to use renewable energy, such as solar energy, as a means of reducing electricity cost. Read more 30-3-2012 || Jamaican Minister’s energy mission — Bringing affordable energy options to Jamaicans including RE Minister of Energy, Mining and Telecommunications Phillip Paulwell has vowed to oversee the liberalization of the energy sector resulting in the reduction of electricity costs by as much as 40 per cent by 2014. Read more 29-3-2012 || Thrust in Renewable Energy at the UWI in Barbados The Cave Hill Campus of the University of the West Indies (UWI) will change the name of the Faculty of Pure Applied Science to the Faculty of Science of Technology, as part of the University’s thurst to promote renewable forms of energy. Read more 29-3-2012 || IDEAS contest promoted to students at the University of Technology- Jamaica Attended by Mr Ancille Brewster, the IDB Resident Representative. The event took place at the University of Technology in Kingston, Jamaica on March 29 . This was the second in a series of launches being done by the Bank. Read more 29-3-2012 || Renewed support for Solar Energy in Barbados Solar-powered energy systems can be tremendously beneficial for Barbados, and the island needs to look at what has been successfully done in Germany to tap alternate power sources. Read more

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CIPORE EVENTS, See All Events Utilities & Smart Metering Latin America Summit May 22-23, 2012 Carilec Certified Energy Manager Course May 22-25, 2012 RIO+20 June 20-22, 2012 International Conference on Technology Transfer and Renewable Energy 2012 June 21-22, 2012 CARILEC Renewable Energy Forum 2012 September 18-19, 2012

28-3-2012 || Carbon Workshop CARILEC-UWI As part of its Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy project: Capacity Building and Training Programme, the Caribbean Electric Utility Corporation (CARILEC) hosted a workshop at the Department of Physics, University of the West Indies, Mona, Campus from March 21 to 22, 2012. Read more 28-3-2012 ||$300-m Rivva Riddim Eco-park planned with solar powered boats in Jamaica A $300-million ecotourism park on 16 hectares (40 acres) of the White River Valley, St Ann, is to be developed by The Rivva Riddim Company Limited. Read more 27-3-2012 || CARICOM Energy Desk Announces 4.5 million Euro capacity support project for the Caribbean (Videos Included) At the recently concluded Regional Renewable Energy Project Financing Workshop and RETScreen Training Workshop convened in Jamaica on 14-15 March 2012, it was revealed that a 4.5 million Euro Germanfunded project will be providing technical assistance and capacity support to the region. Read more

Testimonials “Thank you for sending me a copy of the various CEIS Publications.

Your office has been doing an excellent job in keeping me abreast of developments in both renewable energy and energy efficiency.Before this platform was launched I had to be wandering all over to find information about the Caribbean.

Now I can obtain all that I need and more, all in one place.

It has exceeded my expectations.

There is no other site of this kind anywhere to be found(with information on the Caribbean) and I must commend you and your team for the leadership and vision that you have shown.

I cannot function effectively if I don’t have these monthly outputs from CEIS. I hope your publications will grow from strength to strength and you can always count on my support.”

- C Watson, Kenetic Energy International.

(Left) The Workshop’s introduction was given by Dr. Alston Stoddard, Specialist, CRECS Project, CARICOM. (Right) The welcome address was delivered by Mrs. Yvonne Barrett-Edwards, Director, Energy Economics, Ministry of Science and Technology, Energy and Mining, Jamaica.

23-3-2012 ||Success story from Grenada: off-grid solar installation saves fuel and associated costs Back in September 2010, The MEECO Group was selected by the French Farmex Technologies to install two off-grid systems on the island of Grenada for the National Water and Sewage Authority (NAWASA).

Two years after, Farmex technologies whose activities include water pumping, wastewater treatment, irrigation and water re-use, defines this project as being a great success story. Both solar photovoltaic and energy storage installations were provided and installed by the MECCO Group on the island of Grenada. These stand-alone renewable energy systems have since been reliably powering water treatment plants. Read more Covershot Image Source: montserrathappening.wordpress.com Geothermal on the horizon?

Montserrat, one of several volcanic islands in the Eastern Caribbean.

PROUD MEDIA PARTNER OF: 22-3-2012 || USAID Clean Energy project to assist with Solar Energy services in Guyana The Hinterland Electrification Programme encompasses the procurement of 11,000 home systems for 184 villages, which will provide power for lighting, and operation of small household appliances. Several thousands of the 65-watt panels have already been dispatched to Region Nine villages. Read more BARBADOS POWER SUMMIT Needleham’s Point, Barbados April 16-17, 2012 10% DISCOUNT CODE: CSBS01 (case sensitive)

20-3-2012 ||Dominican geothermal project with promising initial drilling results The drilling of the first geothermal well was completed with good results. The well seemed to have fairly good permeability and to be quite hot. This is a positive sign that there is exploitable geothermal energy in Dominica, and this first well could possibly be used for electricity production. Read more 19-3-2012 || Renewable Energy Discussion: University Students Work to Find Cleaner Sources of Fuel “Being a Chemical Engineer, I am increasingly aware of the need to find renewable alternate sources of energy, not only because fossil fuels will eventually run out, but mainly because they have a destructive impact on the environment,” says Sherry-Ann Tim Kee ’12 (Port-Of-Spain, Trinidad and Tobago). Read more

JAMAICA POWER SUMMIT Kingston, Jamaica April 19-20, 2012 10% DISCOUNT CODE: CSBS02 (case sensitive)

18-3-2012 ||Cabinet approves first meeting of National Energy Council in Jamaica The Council is also expected to consider the expansion of the ratio between fossil fuel sources and renewable fuel sources from 20 per cent up to about 30 per cent by the year 2030. Read more 18-3-2012 || Guyana to benefit from 600m financing for Eenewable Energy and Energy Efficiency projects from IDB and JICA Guyana is among several countries to receive up to $600 million in financing for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency projects from the Inter-American Development Bank and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA). Read more 16-3-2012 ||Caribbean businesses should pursue Renewable Energy The Caribbean Tourism Organization is partnering with Invest Caribbean Now, to present the inaugural Green Forum – set for April 18, 2012 at the Guyana International Conference Centre, Liliendaal. Read more

UTILITIES & SMART METERING LATING AMERICA SUMMIT 2012 Miami, USA May 22-23, 2012 10% DISCOUNT CODE: EM1 (case sensitive)

16-3-2012 || IDB and JICA to invest up to $600 million in Renewable Energy in Central America and the Caribbean This framework agreement was a result of two Memoranda of Understanding between the IDB and JICA, the most recent in 2011, focusing on strategic partnerships on Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, a key component of the Bank’s response to climate change adaptation and mitigation. Read more

VACANCIES REQUESTS FOR PROPOSALS, EXPRESSIONS OF INTERESTS & INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES: CSEP Request for Proposals – Consultancy Services for Antigua and Barbuda CSEP Request for Expression of Interest – Consultancy Services for Grenada US State Department opens 2012-2013 Fulbright applications EIB, Caribbean Development Bank Launch Climate Action Lending Programme Call for Proposal The 2012 IDEAS contest calls for innovative proposals || Deadline: April 30, 2012 RFP: Grid Impact Analysis and Assessment for Increased Penetration of Renewable Energy into the Jamaica Electricity Grid Smart Grid Road Map for Jamaica Call For Proposal Development of Electric Power Policy and Modernization of the Electric Lighting Act for Jamaica Call for Proposal

15-3-2012 || JPS launches hydo-electric plant in Maggotty in Jamaica This new plan is expected to improve power to approximately 25 thousand homes. The Company also plans to spend more than USD$73 million over a four year period – from 2012 to 2016 and employ over one hundred persons. The Maggotty expansion project is slated to begin in October and end in July 2013. Read more 15-3-2012 ||Solar Source Installs Cuba’s Largest Solar Array at Guantanamo Bay The 1,200 panel solar power system will generate clean electricity for the military fitness center at Naval Station Guantanamo Bay. Read more 14-3-2012 || Welcome Address at the CARICOM Regional Renewable Energy Financing Workshop & RETScreen Training Jamaica currently consumes approximately 60,000 barrels of oil per day to meet our diverse energy needs. Over the past decade, the level of annual petroleum imports has remained in the region of 21.2 million.

Read more 12-3-2012 ||Going solar to cut Jamaican Government Minister’s electricity bill in half Given that the initial cost of Renewable Energy solutions was high, in recent times several loan facilities have become available for Jamaicans from various sources, including the National Housing Trust (NHT) and Capital and Credit Merchant Bank. Leading by example, a Jamaican Minister has gone the route of going solar. Read more 11-3-2012 ||JPS moves closer to renewables The Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd (JPS) has announced the formation of a Renewable Energy Integration Group (REIG) within the Company to help fast-track the addition of more Renewable Energy to the electricity grid. Read more 8-3-2012 ||President Bill Clinton tours solar power project sites in Haiti President Bill Clinton and David Crane, President and CEO of NRG Energy, toured several sites in Haiti’s Central Plateau to view the progress of solar power installations funded by NRG’s $1 million energy commitment made through the Clinton Global Initiative (CGI). Read more 7-3-2012 ||Alternative Energy sources for BVI explored in Spain In keeping with Government’s Legislative Agenda to consider alternative forms of energy usage for the Territory, Minister for Communications and Works, Honourable Mark Vanterpool visited the Irradia Solar Energy Farm in Seville, Spain while attending the GSMA World Mobile Congress. Read more 7-3-2012 ||CUC reviewing Alternative Power bids for Cayman Islands Caribbean Utilities Company (CUC) has short-listed candidates from more than 50 proposals it received to supply Renewable Energy to the power grid in Grand Cayman. Read more

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4-3-2012 ||Russians interested in setting up Ethanol Plant in Jamaica Jamaica could soon benefit from significant new investment in a number of sectors, coming out of the just concluded Jamaica Investment Forum. Read more 4-3-2012 ||Success Story: National Bakery uses biodiesel-diesel mix for fleet in Jamaica For the past five years, National Bakery has been using the leftover vegetable oil from the processing of some of its products – peanut and cashew – to supplement fuel for its fleet. It now has a pump dedicated to biodiesel. The company CEO Gary ‘Butch’ Hendrickson has used the fuel in his personal vehicle. Read more 4-3-2012 ||Dominican Republic Signs Co-operation Agreement on Bioenergy The agreement will develop a series of studies on bioenergy, taking into account the country’s co-operation on biofuels with Brazil and the United States.The project comes at a cost of USD$937,500, and provides for two components: additional technical studies on bioenergy and on the sustainability of agricultural projects. Read more

Testimonials “CIPORE is a crucial tool in my everyday work activities. It is the best platform for the dissemination of information on events, progress on projects and the latest news on renewable energy developments in the Caribbean. As a Project Engineer with IT Power, a UK Based Sustainable Energy Solutions consultancy, I use CIPORE to explore potential opportunities as we aim to assist the Caribbean region in Renewable Energy, Climate Change and Energy Efficiency development.”

- Nnyeka Prescod, Project Engineer IT Power Latin America and Caribbean

2-3-2012 ||The Caribbean’s Future In Renewable Energy is bright “The Caribbean represents a huge potential for Renewable Energy projects, primarily because of the ideal climate conditions which exist there for solar, wind and biomass power production,”according to Tony Fiddy, President of Waste to Energy Division and the Regional Vice President for Europe and Africa, Naanovo Energy Inc. Read more 1-3-2012 || Bioenergy is critical for agriculture development in Guyana Bioenergy is critical to the development of the country’s agriculture Sector. This is according to Agriculture Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, who, during a recent forum, outlined his plans for the sector over the next five years. Read more 1-3-2012 ||A New Push for Renewable Energy in Belize BELCOGEN, a subsidiary of state owned Belize Electricity Ltd (BEL), has received enormous accolades on its recent investment in a 31.5 megawatt (MW) biomass power plant fueled by bagasse. BEL invested US$63 million to create BELCOGEN and the bagasse project. This is the largest private investment ever made in Belize. Read more

Content Administrator, CIPORE Caribbean Energy Information System (CEIS), Scientific Research Council (SRC), Hope Gardens, Kingston 6, Jamaica W.I. 876-927-1779(w) | 876-977-1840(f) | ceis@src-jamaica.org www.ceis-caribenergy.org www.src-jamaica.org CEIS manages the Caribbean Information Platform on Renewable Energy (CIPORE) www.cipore.org If you would like to receive past issues of the CIPORE News Review that you missed, just email us at ceis@src-jamaica.org We greatly appreciate any and all feedback and testimonials in an effort to serve you better!

Preview APRIL 2012

7-4-2012 || Cornwall College in Jamaica to go Solar Montego Bay’s Cornwall College, one of the oldest high schools in Jamaica, is now embarking on a sustainable energy project to save the institution “over US$60,000 dollars annually for its energy bill”, according to Lance Gibbs, president of the Cornwall College South Florida Alumni Association, whose idea it was to turn to nature for assistance. Read more 8-4-2012 ||Choking on Rising Fuel Costs for electricity, Barbados Launches multiple source–multiple use Renewable Energy plan Barbados is taking an integrated, multiple source-multiple use approach as it launched a program to shift away from its almost total reliance on imported fossil fuel imports to clean, homegrown renewable sources for electricity generation and other uses.Read more 10-4-2012 || Anguilla turning to Renewable Energy The rapid escalation in the cost of electricity has prompted the Anguilla government to craft a renewable energy project in the hope of providing reliable, environmentally more sustainable electricity at lower costs. Read more 10-4-2012 ||Clean, Renewable Energy for the British Virgin Islands – over 600 hard copy signatures collection Current legislation prevents the implementation of Alternative Energy sources from contributing to the main power supply in areas served

by BVI Electricity Company. In addition, import duties and lack of tax incentives make alternative energy technologies expensive.Read more

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MARCH 2012 IN REVIEW

BE IN THE KNOW ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE OPPORTUNITIES Lynford Cay Foundation offers scholarships for Bahamians studying agriculture, fisheries, environmental studies, marine and environmental biology

27-3-2012 ||CCADRR Project Communication and Public Education Campaign launched in Jamaica (Videos) The GOJ/EU/ UNEP on March 23, 2012 launched the Climate Change Adaptation & Disaster Risk Reduction Project Communication and Public Education Campaign at the Pegasus Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica.

Read more

Caribbean Climate and Development Research Call SCAN ME AND LOG ON!

(Left) Greetings were delivered by Mr. Pierre Luc Vanhaeverbeke, Project Manager, European Union (EU) Delegation, Jamaica. (Right) Skit on Climate Change this time by the Women’s Media Watch group.

(Left) Presentation by Ms. Gail Hoad, Communication Specialist who gave an overview of the Communication and Public Education Campaign.

(Right) Remarks and the official launch declaration was given by the Hon. Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Water, Land, Environment and Climate Change.

PROUD MEDIA PARTNER OF: 27-3-2012 || Barbados green economy: Building a new way of life The economy is about to ‘go green’, the initiatives are ‘going green’, the way of life and health practices are all ‘going green’. In fact, Barbados is on its way to becoming the greenest country in the Latin America and Caribbean region. Read more

BARBADOS POWER SUMMIT Needleham’s Point, Barbados April 16-17, 2012 10% DISCOUNT CODE: CSBS01 (case sensitive)

JAMAICA POWER SUMMIT Kingston, Jamaica April 19-20, 2012 10% DISCOUNT CODE: CSBS02 (case sensitive)

26-3-2012 || Dominica aims to be carbon neutral and climate change resilient.

The Government of Dominica has prepared a 10 year strategy for climate resilience, and is now hoping to secure funding for its implementation. Dominica presented its “2012-2020 Low Carbon Climate Resilient Development Strategy” to donors including the World Bank. Read more 22-3-2012 ||World Water Day 2012 message for the Caribbean Some thoughts on World Water Day 2012, the theme of Water and Food Security, and what it means for the Caribbean, from the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Sub-Regional Coordinator for the Caribbean, Florita Kentish. Read more 22-3-2012 ||Climate change is causing a “drought in fishing” for Grenadian fisherfolk James Nicholas has always made a living off the sea. A fisherman in the tri-island state of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique, he recalls the profitable business of selling his daily catch to residents and restaurants on the island and even exporting fish to luxury hotels in neighbouring ones. Read more 22-3-2012 ||Congolese delegation visits Guyana to discuss forest management A Congolese delegation recently paid a courtesy call on Guyanese Environment Minister Robert Persaud to discuss matters relating to the upcoming Rio+20 Summit. Read more 21-3-2012 ||Carbon Markets Workshop hosted March 21-22, 2012 The Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC), in association with the Department of Physics, University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica hosted a two-day Carbon Markets Workshop.

Read more

UTILITIES & SMART METERING LATING AMERICA SUMMIT 2012 Miami, USA May 22-23, 2012 10% DISCOUNT CODE: EM1 (case sensitive)

21-3-2012 ||CARICOM adopts Regional Climate Change Adaptation plan Leaders of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have agreed on and endorsed 10-year climate change resilience plan: The regional framework plan provides a road map for Caribbean action on Climate Change over the period 2011 to 2021. Read more 17-3-2012 ||Panama Among Countries Most Suited to Attract Green Investment Panama is among the countries in Latin America and the Caribbean most-suited to attract capital for low-carbon investment, according to a report from market research firm Bloomberg New Energy Finance in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank’s Multilateral Investment Fund. Read more

EVENTS CALENDAR 5th International Conference 2012 entitled Sustainable Development: Linking Industry and Environment April 19-21, 2012 Sixth Biennial Caribbean Environmental Forum & Exhibition (CEF- 6), 21- 25 May, 2012.

Developing Resources for Sustainability Energy Conference 2012 June 11-13, 2012 Content Administrator, CIPORE Caribbean Energy Information System (CEIS), Scientific Research Council (SRC), Hope Gardens, Kingston 6, Jamaica W.I. 876-927-1779(w) | 876-977-1840(f) | ceis@src-jamaica.org www.ceis-caribenergy.org www.src-jamaica.org

APRIL 2012 PREVIEW JPS tests remote-controlled power usage in affluent homes in Jamaica Customers in the affluent Jacks Hill and Barbican neighbourhoods of St Andrew can now remotely shut down home lights and appliances, and monitor their energy usage online under a test project rolled out by the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS). The US$500,000 (J$44m) Smart Grid Interface (SGI) pilot launched last month allows customers to curb their power usage from anywhere in the world.

Read more

14-3-2012 ||The challenges and successes of greening a Caribbean Regatta in St.Maarten Sailors for the Sea reports on what the organizers of the recently held St. Maarten Heineken Regatta have been doing to make the Regatta cleaner and greener. Read more 14-3-2012 ||Rotary Dominica launches project to reduce plastic bag use The Rotary Club of Dominica has teamed up with the Solid Waste Management Corporation, the Health Department, Environment Unit and three supermarkets to officially launch its 4R’s Environmental Project: Reduce-Reuse-Recycle-Reclaim. Read more 12-3-2012 ||Cayman government headquarters achieve green building certification Deputy Premier and Minister responsible for Facility Management Hon. Juliana O’Connor-Connolly has announced that the Government Office Accommodation Project (GOAP) has been awarded a Silver Rating by the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) from the US Green Building Council. Read more 11-3-2012 ||Solving Riverton’s woes in Jamaica – ‘Green’ lobbyists say recycling the key Recycling, coupled with other measures such as a comprehensive waste-to-energy project, and composting — not relocation — are said to be key to alleviating woes over the Riverton City dump, where countless fires over the years have cost the country millions of dollars to put out. Read more 7-3-2012 ||The IDB and Canada to cooperate on sustainable energy for the benefit of Latin America and the Caribbean Canada and IDB, signed a Memorandum of Understanding to join forces on initiatives and programs that support sustainable energy in the Latin American and Caribbean (LAC) Region. Read more 5-3-2012 ||For Climate Change Adaptation, Caribbean countries need more co-operation and citizen participation Cuban Climate Change expert Ramón Pichs talks about the need for a co-operative Caribbean approach to Climate Change Adaptation. Read more 2-3-2012 ||Aruba Very simple ways to save on water and electricity consumption presented by the “Hunto Nos Ta Spaar” Team Water and electricity, considered the most used elements worldwide, is becoming a very expensive necessity for today’s households and industry in general. Read more 2-3-2012 ||Eastern Caribbean states pursuing a “green growth agenda” The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States met in February to discuss possibilities for financing a green growth agenda. Read more 2-3-2012 ||UK to invest £22 million in Caribbean Climate Change projects Approximately £22 million is to be invested in the Caribbean from 2011 to 2015 to address various climate change issues. Read more

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