Sustainable Energy & Development News March 2014

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

This publication is prepared by the Caribbean Energy Information System

What’s Happening Now Across The Region...

IDB Boosts Latin Renewables Drive The 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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Guyana Pushes Ahead With Hydro Power in Partnership With Brazil The government of Guyana has partnered with Brazil to begin a prefeasibility 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$200m High 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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MARCH 2014 IN REVIEW BE IN THE KNOW ON RENEWABLE ENERGY

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Renewable Energy Latin America & Caribbean Conference & Expo (RELACCX) April 24-25, 2014 Puerto Rico Regsa International Conference 2014: Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency And Sustainable Development May 6 - 8, 2014 Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, Brazil 2014 Energy Conference June 9-11 2014 Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Trinidad Jamaica Alternative Energy Expo 2014 June 23-24, 2014 The Jamaica Pegasus Hotel, Kingston, Jamaica The University of Technologys’s 3rd International Scientific Conference June 25 – 27, 2014 Kingston, Jamaica

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 29-3-2014 || Solar Schools In 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 27-3-2014 || Caribbean Island of Barbados to Get Waste-to-Energy Plant One 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 27-3-2014 || Shale Gas Threatens Renewables Revolution The 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 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 21-3-2014 || Taylor Wessing Advises Cahill Energy on Proposed Waste-toEnergy Plant in Barbados Taylor 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

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 System Bermuda’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 19-3-2014 || Westin Dawn Beach Resort St Maarten Completes Solar Energy Project A 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 18-3-2014 || A Pacific Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency A 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 more 17-3-2014 || Bank Sees the Light in Solar Energy The 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 14-3-2014 || The Limits of Cuba’s Renewable Energy Sources: Capital The Oil Crash, an interesting blog which analyzes and divulges information related to the imminent energy crisis, was created in January 2010. Read more 13-3-2014 ||Dominica Completes Drilling of Geothermal Wells Dominica”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 12-3-2014 || HEART College’s Ray of Sunshine HEART 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 11-3-2014 || Richard Branson: Global Warming Deniers ‘Get Out of Our Way’ Virgin CEO Richard Branson said that those who are skeptical of manmade 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

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11-3-2014 || OUR to Address Concerns of Prospective Renewable Energy Projects Financiers The 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 10-3-2014 || BTVI Conducts Solar Energy Course With 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 9-3-2014 || PCJ Biofuel Research Favours Chinese Castor Bean The 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 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 7-3-2014 || Study Claims Giant Wind Turbines Could Blow Away Hurricanes Over 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 5-3-2014 || St Lucia Gov’t Seeking to Establish Regulatory Body for Energy Sector The St Lucia Government is laying a foundation to facilitate multimilliondollar 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 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 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 Plant VIASPACE 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

MARCH 2014 IN REVIEW

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31-3-2014 || Commonwealth Works to Raise Climate Resilience on Global Agenda As 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 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 25-3-2014 || Global Water Demand to Increase by 55 Per Cent by 2050: UN Report Increasing 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 17-3-2014 || Youth Targeted as Clean Energy Ambassadors Two 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 15-3-2014 || Minister Dorsett Addresses Forum of Environment Ministers Minister 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

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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

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14-3-2014 || Bahamas Waste Gives Masters Students Insight on Recycling Bahamas 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 13-3-2014 || Caribbean LED business Continues to Improve and Expand Three 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 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 11-3-2014 || Richard Branson Tells Businesses to Make a Stand Against Climate Change Deniers Virgin 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 11-3-2014|| New Ozone-Destroying Chemicals Discovered in Atmosphere Four 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 10-3-2014 ||John Kerry Issues Seven Point Climate Change Plan Last 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 7-3-2014 || SuperChar Kilns Promote Sustainability SuperChar 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 more 5-3-2014 || 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 5-3-2014 ||Virgin Islands Water and Power Authority Selects Itron and Tantalus for Advanced Metering Infrastructure Itron 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 5-3-2014 || Bahamians Combine in Water Plant Bid Rival 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 1-3-2014 ||NWC Looking Into Prepaid Water Tank Programme The 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