Sustainable Energy & Development News
VOL.1 OCTOBER 2015
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... Caribbean Can Benefit From Cheap Oil Price Windfall Could the Caribbean, a region that has long suffered some of the highest energy costs in the world, emerge a winner from falling global oil prices? We think it can, if its governments make some smart strategic choices. Read more Adaptation Fund Approves Grant For Caribbean Concept…Jamaica, Cuba, Dominican Republic To Benefit Bonn, Germany – The Adaptation Fund Board has approved a US$20,000-grant for the development of a regional climate change project in three islands. Read more Paulwell Happy With Increased Use Of Renewable Energy Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining (STEM) Phillip Paulwell is happy with the pace of energy transformation in Jamaica. Read more
OCTOBER 2015 IN REVIEW BE IN THE KNOW ON RENEWABLE ENERGY
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Annual Energy Caribbean Conference (15th) October 13 - 14, 2015 The Hilton, Trinidad Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF) 2015 October 19th-21st The InterContinental Miami Florida, USA Renewable Energy PPAS November 2-3, 2015 San Diego, CA USA International Hydrogen Conference – Call For Papers November 3-4, 2015 University of Technology (UTech) Kingston Jamaica
31-10-2015 || Govt Aiming To Make Jamaica Regional Leader For Renewable Energy The Government is aiming to make Jamaica the leading country in the Caribbean in the use of renewable energy, while significantly reducing energy use across the public and private sectors. Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, cited the Wigton Wind Farm expansion project in Manchester, work underway in Clarendon to create the largest solar facility in the Caribbean, as well ... Read more 28-10-2015 || Meadowbrook High Plugs Into The Sun “Let your light so shine” has become more than a motto for 57-year-old co-ed institution Meadowbrook High; it speaks to its move this school year to include solar into its energy mix. Principal Michael Peart had proposed the use of solar energy as part of the school’s action plan at the beginning of his tenure three years ago. He believed that going green was a step in the right direction in keeping with the school’s evolving energy needs. “Our average electricity bills were ranging as high as $500,000 and this was becoming a strain on our ... Read more 28-10-2015 || Ensuring Renewable Energy Goals Become A Reality In The Caribbean The islands of the Caribbean are not only some of the most popular tourist destinations, but they are also economically and ecologically diverse regions with growing energy needs. The strength of each island’s tourism industry, which comprises a large portion their gross domestic product, is largely supported by the beautiful ecology that attracts visitors to their shores time and time again. However, the power ... Read more 27-10-2015 ||Latin America, Caribbean To Focus On Solar Energy Latin America and the Caribbean will increasingly rely on solar energy as water resources become scarce, Jaime Portaluppi, Latin America and the Caribbean ET Solar managing director, told Latin Business Daily Monday. “The use of solar energy for Latin America is definitely irreversible,” Portaluppi said via telephone from ET Solar’s regional headquarters in Chile. The location of ET Solar’s headquarters is considered ... Read more
REPORTS Study on the Development of the Renewable Energy Market in Latin America and 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 Policy Handbook Voice of Future Generations - How to Achieve 100 % Renewable Energy 2014 The Changing Energy Landscape in the Caribbean 1999 - 2008 (10 Years Impact Assessment Report) Available at the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) A New Paradigm for Caribbean Development: Transitioning to a Green Economy
24-10-2015 || JIS Saves Big On Energy Three years after the implementation of energy-efficient solutions at the Jamaica Information Service (JIS), the agency is reporting savings of 17.5 per cent per annum on its energy bill. The solutions, which include solar-control film on windows, cool-roof solutions, and overhaul of the air-conditioning system, were provided under the Energy Efficiency Conservation Programme (EECP), aimed at reducing energy costs across the public sector. Public-sector entities are responsible ... Read more 23-10- 2015 || This Caribbean Country Is Adding Solar Street Lights Guyana says it is deveguy-950x530loping a number of initiatives dedicated to the use of renewable energy sources. The Ministry of Finance’s 2015 mid-year report indicates that the latter half of the year will see the installation of photovoltaic systems, as well as the implementation of pilot projects in the installation of solar street lighting. The country also said that the Inter-American Development ... Read more 23-10-2015 || IDB, CDB Heads Bat For Clean Energy In Caribbean Miami, Florida — Heads of the Inter-American Bank (IDB) and the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), who participated in a highlevel meeting of United States and Caribbean governments, utilities, development partners and energy sector stakeholders in this southern US city, took their arguments for a faster build out of renewable technologies in the region to the American media. Read more 21-10-2015 || Clean Energy Study Tour Across Europe For Caribbean Engineers PV Energy continues training sessions to enhance local engineering capacity. Willing to take a shift towards more sustainable patterns of energy consumption, the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) recently made use of PV Energy’s clean power expertise for the construction of a 10 MWp solar energy project cluster including a first 3 MWp installation at the V.C. Bird International Airport on Antigua. The magnitude of th is first solar PV installation on the twin-island requires comprehensive trainings for. ... Read more 21-10-2015 || Saint Lucia Plans to Get 35 Percent of Renewable Energy Castries, (Prensa Latina), Saint Lucia is taking as a target to reach 35 percent of generation of electric power from renewable sources for the year 2020, it was reported today in this capital. The government said that two government agencies, among them the National Organization of Emergency Handling, are already equipped with panels for the obtention of solar energy, as the Internet site stlucianewsonline.com pointed out. The transition to renewable energy sources is ... Read more 20-10-2015 || New Startup Provides Solar Energy To Rural Families In Haiti Port-Au-Prince, Haiti -- RE-VOLT is on a mission to bring affordable and reliable electricity to families in rural Haiti and is running a crowd-funding campaign to help fund the expansion of its service to more customers. Through the installation of a system consisting of a solar panel, a control / power storage unit, several lights and a phone charger, RE-VOLT is bringing power to the people in rural Haitian homes for the first time. 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) | 876-9771840(f) | ceis@src-jamaica.org www.ceis-caribenergy.org www.src-jamaica.org
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16-10-2015 || Geothermal Panel At The Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum, Oct. 19-21, 2015 The Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum to take place, October 19-21, 2015 in Miami, Florida will feature a geothermal panel. In the panel “Geothermal: Life After Guadeloupe – Dominica, Nevis & St. Lucia”, a diverse group will look at geothermal in the Caribbean. The panel will be chaired by Christiaan Gischler, Senior Energy Specialist at the InterAmerican Development Bank. “30 years after Guadeloupe ... Read more 14-10-2015 || J$80m In Savings From Energy Efficiency And Conservation Project Kingston, Jamaica (JIS) – The Government has realised savings of approximately J$80 million to date under the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Programme (EECP). The four-year project, implemented in 2011, is aimed at reducing the energy bill in public sector agencies. It is being funded by the Government in partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). It involves replacing energy-wasting and outdated air conditioning units and lighting with more efficient models; and installation of central cooling, solar control film on windows, as well as ... Read Miore 13-10-2015 || Solar Energy Training For Antigua & Barbuda The development of a sustainable and clean energy supply on the Caribbean Islands is making great progresses. Particularly the Government of Antigua and Barbuda (GOAB) stands out with the completion of the first phase of 3 MWp sun2live solar PV on the grounds of the V.C. Bird International Airport in early October of a total of 10 MWp, which will be finalized in the upcoming 6 months. The 3.86 hectare-sized sun2live solar PV installation on Antigua will play a pivotal role in the local governments energy management, as the generated power shall almost ... Read more 08-10-2015 || TSCL Reveals New State-Of-The-Art Facilities More than 200 people gathered during the Grand Opening of The Security Centre Limited (TSCL)’s new offices in Cayman Technology Centre. The 24 September Chamber Business After Hours event included a tour of their state-of-the-art energy efficient facilities built by NCB Group. At the ribbon-cutting ceremony the Premier Hon Alden McLaughlin congratulated TSCL and cut the ribbon that marked a special day for this Caymanian owned security company that employs over 250 people. “We are so pleased after 15 years of operation to be able to ... Read more 06-10-2015 || Guyana’s New Wind Energy Push The government of Guyana says it is making “significant strides” towards the implementation of renewable energy sources. Most recently, the country’s Cabinet granted the Ministry of Public Infrastructure the authority to proceed with negotiations with Guyana Windfarm Inc. on a proposal that would provide 26 megawatts of wind energy to the grid. “Cabinet has given its no objection to examine the proposal in detail, to ensure that it will meet the required criteria... Read more 01-10-2015 ||How Can Jamaica Lower The Costs Of Energy? (Part I) Jamaica is confronting the daunting challenge of developing a national growth agenda to invigorate the economy and raise living standards for all Jamaicans. Economic growth however is inextricably linked to the cost of energy. Unfortunately with no oil, natural gas, coal, or large hydro power resources, Jamaica has a narrow range of options at its ... Read more
OCTOBER 2015 IN REVIEW
BE IN THE KNOW ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE 30-10-2015 || Our Climate Impact – Meeting The Need For Meat Port-of-Spain , Trinidad, - “The economic structure of the ideal society also resembles the structure of a healthy human body. Production, distribution and consumption should have an organic, interdependent relationship such as that which exists between the digestive, circulatory and metabolic systems. There should not be destructive competition due to ... Read more
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28-10-2015 || Dominica Shaken By Several Tremors Roseau, Dominica (CMC) – The Office of Disaster Management (ODM) Wednesday urged Dominicans to remain calm after the island recorded a number of earthquakes in the Soufriere area, south east of here on Tuesday night. The Seismic Research Centre (SRC) at the Trinidadbased St Augustine campus of the University of the West ... Read more 27-10-2015 || NEMA Press Release: Tsunami Evacuation Maps Project As the Caribbean is a very seismic active region, countries continue to undertake various Tsunami Readiness actives. In support of its ongoing multimedia Earthquake and Tsunami Public Education Campaign, the National Emergency Management Agency Office and the Nevis Disaster Management Department hosted Consultant, Mr. Carlos Rodriguez over the period 19th- 23rd October 2015. While in the Federation, the consultant also met with officers... Read more 25-10-2015 || JetBlue Boss Makes Case For An Environmentally Friendly Caribbean Willemstad, Curaçao, CNS - Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of JetBlue Robin Hayes is making the case for investment in environmental conservation. Hayes said governments need to see value in the upkeep of the natural surroundings. “Too often around the world, countries fail to see the link between cleaning up beaches and oceans and their economic ... Read more
BE IN THE KNOW ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, ENVIRONMENT, CLIMATE CHANGE & renewable energy
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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21-10-2015 || Gov’t Allocates Initial $5m For Removal Of Sargassum Kingston, Jamaica (JIS) – Government has allocated an initial sum of $5 million for clean-up and disposal of the sargassum (a brown seaweed with berry-like air bladders) currently affecting beaches and coastlines across the island and the wider Caribbean. This was disclosed by Director of Environmental Management at the National Environment ... Read more 19-10-2015|| Antigua and Barbuda Submits Its Climate Action Plan Ahead of 2015 Paris Agreement Bonn, Germany – Antigua and Barbuda has submitted its new climate action plan to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). This Intended Nationally Determined Contribution (INDC) comes in advance of a new universal climate change agreement wihich will be ... Read more 17-10-2015 || Write About Climate Change; Win A Trip To Paris! – St Lucia Gov’t Offers Journalists Prize For COP 21 CASTRIES, Saint Lucia — The Environmental Education Unit of the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science, and Technology here has issued a challenge to journalists to cover climate change-related issues for a chance to win a trip to Paris. Read More 14-10-2015 || France Warns About Security Risks Caused By Global Warming Paris, France (AP) — UN conference on climate in Paris this year will also be a “conference for peace,” given that global warming threatens the world’s security, a top French official said Wednesday. Read more 12-10-2015|| Region’s Massive Debt due to Natural Disaster — UWI Chancellor Kingston, Jamaica — Chancellor of the University of the West Indies (UWI) Professor Sir George Alleyne says the region’s massive debt to international agencies is due to the effects of natural disasters. He was speaking at the seventh Annual UWI Open Campus Ceremony for .... Read more 05-10-2015 || Cuba Eliminates Ozone-Layer-Exhausting Substances Havana (Prensa Latina) Cuban experts are giving the final touches a plant with Japanese technology to destroy substances that exhaust the ozone layer (OLES), the fragile gas stratus that prevents the Sun’s ultraviolet radiation from damaging life on Earth. Read more 05-10-2015|| Domineering Drought In Cuba In 2015, Cuba has shown a worrying lack of rain as in the first seven months of the year only 70% of the usual average rainfall for the country during this period was reported. Throughout the nation, the level of the reservoirs is found to be a lot lower than their full capacity, and the subterranean water sources are in descent with respect to the preceding months... Read more 03-10-2015 || Grenada Joins Regional Call For Action On Climate Change New Yourk, USA — A framework for climate change “cannot wait,” Grenada’s foreign minister said on Friday, joining other leaders from Latin America and the Caribbean calling for urgent action in the United Nations General Assembly. “The impacts of... Read more 03-10-2015 || Hurricane Joaquin Batters Bahamas - Ship Missing In Storm Eleuthera, Bahamas (AP) — Hurricane Joaquin destroyed houses, uprooted trees and unleashed heavy flooding as it hurled torrents of rain across the Bahamas yesterday, while the US Coast Guard said it was searching for a cargo ship with 33 people aboard.... Read more