Sustainable Energy & Development News May 2014

Sustainable Energy & Development News VOL.1 MAY 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 Across The Region...

Ocean Energy – Europe and the Caribbean European Maritime Day is celebrated annually across the European Union (EU) on 20 May. This is relevant to the Caribbean as large parts of the EU and of course the entire Caribbean have a very close relationship with the ocean and secondly, the ocean is an enormous source of energy. .

Read more Climate Change Park Coming to Portmore At one time it was to be the site of the Jamaica Football Federation’s training centre. Then there was talk that it was to be the home of the municipal offices. But last Friday, 15 acres of open lot across from the Portmore Mall was unveiled as the site for a climate change park.

Read more Call For Nominations For the Ramsar Wetland Conservation Awards 2015 The Ramsar Convention is the lead implementation partner for the Convention on Biological Diversity regarding wetlands. The Ramsar Secretariat invites you to consider nominating individuals, organizations, or initiatives for the Ramsar Convention Wetlands Awards for 2015 ...

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2014 Energy Conference June 9-11 2014 Hyatt Regency Trinidad, Trinidad Jamaica Alternative Energy Expo June 23-24, 2014 Kingston, Jamaica The University of Technologys’s 3rd International Scientific Conference June 25 – 27, 2014 Kingston, Jamaica Geothermal Congress for the LAC Region 2014 (GEOLAC 2014) July 16 -17, 2014 San Jose, Costa Rica Renewable Energy Latin America & Caribbean Conference & Expo (RELACCX) November 20-21, 2014 Puerto Rico

30-5-2014 || Caribbean Development Bank: Caribbean Should Consider Going Green Caribbean nations need to take measures to help themselves to become more resilient, including launching “a frontal attack” on high energy costs, the head of the Caribbean Development Bank said Thursday as he wrapped up a two-day gathering in Guyana. Warren Smith said the region’s over dependence on imported oil must be shifted to renewable energy sources. His assertions have been echoed by other institutions, including the Inter-American Development Bank, which last year held a conference in Washington to address the urgency of the matter. Read more 30-5-2014 || Guatemala’s First Utility-Scale Solar Plant Complete The first utility-scale solar power plant in Guatemala, and reportedly the largest in Central America, is now online. The 5MW ‘Sibo’ power plant is located in Estanzuela, Zapaca, eastern Guatemala, and is a joint venture between Guatemala developer, Greenergyze, Spanish utility-scale solar construction firm, Gransolar, and investors Grupo Ecos, the Guatemalan Green Group and EcoSolar. Read more 28-5-2014 || Chairman of Cool Corporation Joe Issa Says Cheaper Energy is Imperative For Jamaica’s Growth Agenda in 2014 and Beyond Executive Chairman of Cool Group of Companies and the largest indigenous distributor of petroleum products in Jamaica, Joe Issa, says in an interview that cheaper, sustainable and environmentally friendly energy is urgently needed for Jamaica’s growth agenda in 2014 and beyond, and every viable option must be vigourously pursued as the country seeks to increase energy efficiency and conservation for enhanced competitiveness in the regional and global markets. Read more 26-5-2014 || APS Microinverters to Be Distributed By Utilities Supply Corp. in Florida, Caribbean Markets The partnership establishes APS microinverter products in the Florida and Caribbean markets, following recent distribution deals in Nevada and California. “By working with Utilities Supply Corp., APS enters the Caribbean market with products that meet the challenging environmental conditions there,” said Paul Barlock, Senior Vice President for APS America.

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REPORTS World Energy Scenarios: Composing Energy Futures To 2050 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

DOCUMENTS National Energy Plan - Final Draft Commonwealth of Dominica Sustainable Energy Plan - Final Draft - Commonwealth of Dominica 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

26-5-2014 || US Virgin Islands Solar Project Gets $3 Million in Funding A solar energy project at the University of the Virgin Islands will be receiving a $3 million award from the United States Department of Agriculture’s High Energy Cost Grant Programme. The project between Veriown Energy and the University of the Virgin Islands will see the deployment of 2.16 megawatts of solar power at both the St Thomas and St Croix campuses of the university. Read more 20-5-2014 || Caribbean Export Supports CAIPA’s Efforts at Attracting Green FDI Investment The Caribbean Export Development Agency (Caribbean Export) facilitated the participation of representatives from Caribbean Investment Promotion Agencies (IPAs) at the Regional Workshop on Fostering the Green FDI Opportunity in Latin America & the Caribbean (LAC), organised by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) in Bogota, Colombiafrom May 6– 8,2014.The event was attended by 50 participants, representing 25 countries in the LAC region. Read more 15-5-2014 || Latin American and Caribbean PV Markets Poised for Foundational Growth Solar is primed to become the next big thing in many countries in Latin America and the Caribbean. Eventually. While we won’t see the explosive growth evident in more developed countries, the conditions are there for Latin America and nations in the Caribbean to become solar hot spots.

Read more 13-5-2014 || Wind Farm Initiative High on Government’s Agenda The government of the twin-island Federation is in the process of finalising a deal to develop a Wind Farm on St. Kitts to drive its energy policy. The policy consists mainly of geothermal energy, solar and wind energy as well as energy wastage, initiatives upon which the government is focusing its attention. Read more 12-5-2014 || Government Still Committed to Affordable Energy Solution, PM Tells Partnership Council Prime Minister, the Most Hon. Portia Simpson Miller has reiterated government’s commitment to an affordable electricity rate for manufacturers and residential users. Speaking today at a meeting of the Partnership Council at Jamaica House, the Prime Minister said the Enterprise Team being put in place will be well suited to deal with large investment projects like the 381 megawatt electricity ... Read more 12-5-2014 || Solar Savings – Holy Trinity High Cuts Bill in Half With Renewable Energy Shocked that the approximately $1 million monthly electricity bill at Holy Trinity High School has been cut by half, the country’s sole power provider, the Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS), made its way to the Central Kingston-based school to investigate whether the reduction was due to meter tampering or abstraction. Read more 7-5-2014 || South American Pellet Plant to Use Viaspace Giant King Grass Viaspace, a grower of Giant King Grass for renewable energy production, has signed a contract with St Lucia, West Indies-based renewable energy firm Emunite Energy Solutions to provide Giant King Grass for its planned 100,000 tonne per year pellet mill in Guyana, South America. Read more

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6-5-2014 || St Lucia, Germany Hold Talks on Sustainable Development St Lucia Sustainable Development Minister James Fletcher held talks last week with a delegation from the German International Cooperation Agency. The purpose of the meeting was for Germany’s delegation to “better informed on Saint Lucia’s programmes in sustainable energy, climate change and water resource management and to explore avenues for strengthening the cooperation programme between the German government and the Government of Saint Lucia in these areas,” according to a statement from the government of St Lucia. Read more 6-5-2014 || Solar Car-Charging Station Opens in Grand Cayman It may be the Caribbean’s most abundant resource, but in a region where energy costs are oppressive, solar energy isn’t used nearly enough. That’s starting to change, though, and it got a significant boost last week with the opening of the Caribbean’s first-ever solar-powered car charging station.

The station is viewed to be one of the first standalone, public solar carcharging stations in the Caribbean, a place for electric-powered cars to come and top off their energy supplies. Read more 6-5-2014 || InterEnergy Announces Investment in the Largest Wind Project in Central America InterEnergy Holdings has announced the signature of an agreement with Unión Eolica Panameña S.A. (UEP) to invest in a 215MW wind power project in Penonome, Panama. InterEnergy announces investment in the largest wind project in Central America. The total projected investment in the project, which is expected to be the largest wind power facility in Central America and the Caribbean, amount to $427 million. Read more 5-5-2014 || ACORE Releases “Renewable Energy in Latin America and the Caribbean” Briefing Michael Brower, president and CEO of the American Council on Renewable Energy, or ACORE, said the articles in the Latin America and Caribbean market briefing illustrate how renewable energy has the potential to address a variety of challenges. Among them: very high electricity prices, outdated or burgeoning infrastructure, and water and energy access concerns. Read more 1-5-2014 || Wigton Expansion Priced at $4.6b The 24 megawatt (MW) expansion at Wigton Windfarm Limited will cost some $4.6 billion, according to a just released government documentation. The upgrade will increase energy production over 60 per cent at Wigton a wholly-owned subsidiary of Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica. Read more 1-5-2014 || St Kitts Gets Help to Develop Alternative Forms of Energy A team of experts from the US-based Clinton Foundation Climate Initiative (CFCI) is due here later this month as the organisation seeks to help St Kitts and Nevis in developing a strategy to reduce the cost of electricity on the twin island Federation, Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas has said.

Read more 1-5-2014 || Solar Powered Farms to Boost Employment: Jamaican Project Gets Boost from DFID The model of Jamaica’s first solar-powered hydroponic farm is to be replicated in urban areas across Jamaica, to create more job opportunities and enrich communities. Read more

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29-5-2014 || Caribbean Urged to Make Full Use of Green Climate Fund A senior official of the Barbados-based Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) says the operationalising of the Green Climate Fund (GCF) provides an important opportunity for regional countries to not only adapt to climate change but also to mitigate its effects. Read more 29-5-2014 || Stakeholders Receive Climate Change Audio-Visual Tool Kits As part of efforts to educate the public about the impact of climate, the Ministry of Water, Land, Environment, and Climate Change, has handed over copies of its Climate Change Audio-Visual Tool Kit to several stakeholders. Read more 24-4-2014 || Lion Fish Contest Helps in Goal to Clear Reefs The #11 Rackam and Stack’em tournament the second lionfish hunt organized this year by CULL (Cayman United Lionfish League) saw 594 lionfish removed from the reefs which combined to a total weight of over 230lbs. Read more 26-5-2014 || FosRich, Philips See Bright Future ‘Let there be light’ and there was more light last Wednesday, when the FosRich Group of Companies, one of Jamaica’s primary electrical lighting, solar and LED bulb providers, signed a partnership agreement with Philips – a Fortune 500 company and world-leading manufacturer of lighting solutions, to provide Jamaica with better energy-saving solutions.

Read more 23-5-2014 ||Foam has the power to shrink energy bills Cayman is at the forefront of the construction industry here in the Caribbean, that’s according to one expert who was hosting a conference this week revealing the latest insulation technology in the business.

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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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23-5-2014 || Some 200,000 Energy-Saving Bulbs to be Distributed Via Plan Between the Governments of St. Kitts and Nevis and Venezuela In an attempt to further reduce the cost of electricity to consumers, St. Kitts and Nevis and the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela are collaborating in a plan that will see the distribution of over 5,000 energy-saving bulbs in the twin-island Federation. Read more 13-5-2014|| Minister Dorsett Opens BREEF Climate Change Exhibition Young environmental supporters gathered to hear Bahamas Environment Minister Kenred Dorsett address the future of Climate Change in The Bahamas at the BREEF Climate Change Exhibition on May 8 at the PRO Gallery, College of The Bahamas. Read more 12-5-2014 || Using Boulders to Curtail Negril Beach Erosion is IllAdvised, says Wheatley Opposition Spokesperson for the Environment, Dr Andrew Wheatley, on Monday called on Environment Minister Robert Pickersgill to “wake up and immediately address mounting concerns with plans to construct a controversial breakwater system off the famous Negril coastline”.

Read more 9-5-2014 || Highway Halt – NEPA Puts Brakes on North-South Leg The Jamaica North South Highway Company Limited (JNSHCL) has ceased the clearing of lands outside of the approved alignment, with respect to the construction of section one (Caymanas to Linstead) leg of the North South Link of Highway 2000. Read more 5-5-2014 || IRENA Initiatives Against Climate Change Receive Widespread Support The International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) has received widespread support for two action-oriented initiatives, Africa Clean Energy Corridor and Small Island Developing States (SIDS) – Lighthouses, the Agency presented at Abu Dhabi Ascent, the preparatory meeting for the UN Climate Summit this September in New York. Read more 5-5-2014 ||Goodbye Fluorescents! This T8 LED Lamp is 30% More Efficient, Lasts 50,000 Hours It’s too bad that energy efficiency isn’t sexier, because it’s something that we should focus on a lot more. In almost all cases, it’s easier to not use a watt (also known as a negawatt) than to produce an extra watt of clean energy. That’s why getting commercial buildings to use high-efficiency and long-lasting LEDs is a big deal. Read more 5-5-2014 || World Bank Approves Climate Change Project in Dominica The World Bank announced on Thursday that it had approved a US$39 million-project in Dominica to help the island build resilience to climate change. Read more 5-5-2014 || Petrotrin Aims to Shrink Its Carbon Footprint Trinidad and Tobago holds the dubious distinction of being among the top 10 emitters of carbon dioxide per capita in the world, much of it due to the petrochemical industry that is the main driver of its economy.

Read more 2-5-2014 ||Beaches Negril Earns PADI Green Star Award BEACHES Negril Resort and Spa was recently presented with the PADI Green Star Award, reaffirming its commitment to environmental preservation and its place as a leading green hotel. Read more

RENEWABLE ENERGY LATIN AMERICAN & CARIBBEAN CONFERENCE & EXHIBITION

November 20 - 21, 2014

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