Sustainable Energy & Development News
VOL.1 november 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... Renewable Energy Thrust To Intensify, Says Boyce Minister with responsibility for Energy, Senator Darcy Boyce is confident Barbados can save hundreds of millions of dollars in energy costs within five years. During a church service for CARICOM Energy Week in the Christ Church Parish ... Read more $20 Billion Invested in Renewable Energy Sector Minister of Science, Technology, Energy and Mining, Hon. Phillip Paulwell, said Jamaica has attracted an investment of over $20 billion in renewable energy projects, which is creating jobs for thousands of Jamaicans, while diversifying the energy sector. Read more Caribbean Agriculture Looks To Cope With Climate Change Bridgetown, Barbados – Climate change represents a clear and growing threat to food security in the Caribbean with differing rainfall patterns, water scarcity, heat stress and increased climatic variability making ... Read more
NOVEMBER 2015 IN REVIEW BE IN THE KNOW ON RENEWABLE ENERGY
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CIPORE EVENTS See All Events
International Hydrogen Conference – Call For Papers November 3-4, 2015 University of Technology (UTech) Kingston Jamaica
The Fourth International Conference On Energy, Water and Environment Science (ICEWES) 2015 December 15-17 Al Hamra Convention Center, Hilton Al Hamra Beach & Golf Resort
World Future Energy Summit January 18 – 21, 2016 ABU DHABI National Exhibition Centre, Reed Exhibitions Middle East, Abu Dhabi – United Arab Emirates
27-11-2015 || Nevis Geothermal Power Purchase Agreement Signed Charlestown, Nevis (NIA) -- On Wednesday, the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), the Nevis Electric Company Limited (NEVLEC) and Nevis Renewable Energy International Inc. (NREI signed a long-term power purchase agreement (PPA) that agreement provides for 25 years of a domestic base load renewable energy supply from geothermal resources located on the island of Nevis. The first phase will supply 9MW of power that is immediately expandable, to meet the ongoing power needs of ... Read more 24-11-2015 || Solar Swells In Barbados; Capacity Set To Double In 2016 Recent legislative changes in Barbados present an attractive opportunity for solar investors and developers. Learn more in the Barbados Solar PV Market Insightreport. The last two years has seen the installed solar PV capacity of Barbados increase five-fold from 1.6MW in 2013 to over 9MW in 2015. The country will see the solar capacity double in 2016 when Canadian energy firm Emera completes construction of their 10MW utility scale project in August... Read more 24-11-2015 || Latin America Invests $23 bn In Clean Energy Washington, Nov 23 (EFE).- Investment in renewable sources of energy in Latin America and the Caribbean grew by nearly 50 percent last year to $23 billion, according to a study released Monday by the Inter-American Development Bank and Bloomberg New Energy Finance. Brazil accounted for $14 billion of that total, followed by Mexico and Chile with $2 billion each, the Climatescope report noted. Wind power remained the main beneficiary of investment in renewables in the ... Read more 23-11-2015 ||Against The Odds, Caribbean Doubles Down For 1.5-Degree Deal In Paris Kingston, Jamaica, Monday November 23, 2015, IPS – Negotiators from the 15-member Caribbean Community (CARICOM) are intent on striking a deal to keep the global temperature rise at 1.5 degrees of pre-industrial levels, but many fear that a 10-year-old agreement to buy cheap petroleum from Venezuela puts their discussions ... 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
Power Systems of the Future A 21stCentury Power Partnership Thought Leadership Report
UNIVERSAL SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS Understanding the Transformational Challenge for Developed Countries
Millennium Development Goal 8 Taking Stock of the Global Partnership for Development
19-11-2015 || Solar Hope Central Bank Governor Dr Delisle Worrell suggested today there was one ‘sure’ way for the island to record three per cent economic growth this year. However, it would have required a 100 per cent switch over from electricity to solar energy. Worrell therefore told those attending a renewable energy and energy efficiency workshop not to expect any significant change to the Central Bank’s 0.5 per cent growth projection for 2015. The Bank is further projecting one per cent ... Read more 19-11- 2015 || BVI Government Moves Forward With Renewable Energy The Government of the Virgin Islands, through the Ministry of Communications and Works, is preparing to integrate renewable energy sources as part of the electricity infrastructure in the Territory. The Ministry of Communications and Works is anticipating that by 2023, thirty percent of the Territory’s power will be generated by renewable energy sources through the use of wind, solar, waste and ... Read more 18-11-2015 || Middle East Troubles No Threat To Jamaica’s Energy Security — Paulwell Jamaica will remain energy-secure for the next 18 months at least, despite tensions in the Middle East which have been ramped up by last week’s terror attack on Paris, France. This is the firm view of Energy Minister Phillip Paulwell who spoke yesterday with the Jamaica Observer at the first of two news luncheons with the ... Read more 14-11-2015 || Scientific Research Council (SRC )Targets Region With Biogas Project Having successfully installed 600 waste water treatment systems throughout Jamaica, with the goal of extracting biogas for cooking, the Scientific Research Council (SRC) is looking to expand its reach in the region over the next month. Beginning with Haiti in December, the SRC is also looking to penetrate the St Lucian and Antiguan markets by the next financial year. In an interview with JIS News, Executive Director of the SRC Dr Cliff Riley explained that the treatment of waste water and the conversion to biogas has become popular, with many requests ... Read more 12-11-2015 || French Company Begins Geothermal Exploration In St. Kitts Teranov, a French engineering and services company for new and renewable energy based in Guadeloupe, has started geothermal exploration exercises in St. Kitts. Five geoscientists are in the island conducting feasibility studies in geophysics, geology and geochemistry. President of Teranov, Jacques Chouraki, says the prospects for geothermal energy on St. Kitts are promising. “The initial results look pretty good but, of course, it’s too early to say what will be valuable…It’s a long process. We have decided ... Read more 11-11-2015 || Irrigation Commission Eyes $18m Electric Bill Cut, Installs New Energy Efficient Equipment The National Irrigation Commission Limited (NIC) is expected to see savings of $18 million annually on its electricity bill as a result of the installation of energy efficient equipment at some of the agency’s facilities. That’s the word from the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ) which spent 22 point $2 million to install the equipment. The Commission, which is an agency of the Ministry of Agriculture & Fisheries, is responsible for providing irrigation services ... Read more
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04-11-2015 || GRENLEC In Multi-Million Dollar Solar Project The Grenada Electricity Services Limited (GRENLEC), the island’s sole electricity supplier, said it has signed an EC$6.4 million (One EC dollar =US$0.37 cents) to increase solar electricity generation. GRENLEC did not state with whom it signed the agreement, but indicated that “it’s the largest renewable energy investment in Grenada to date”. It said that it had finalized a contract for 937kW of solar photovoltaic (PV) renewable energy spread over 13 sites and that “these new ... Read more 03-11-2015 ||Gov’t Must Move Swiftly On Renewable Energy Government should consider fast tracking its thrust towards renewable energy especially since the approval of Cayman’s first solar power farm was long overdue. So said GreenTech Group founder and CEO James Whittaker responding to news that Caribbean Utilities Company Ltd (CUC) has received the green light for its 5 megawatt (MW) solar plant in Bodden Town. On Friday CUC and the Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERA) issued a joint statement announcing that the plant, which will be built by Entropy Cayman Solar Ltd, was approved the Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for the ... Read more 02-11-2015 ||Benefits Of Having Solar Panels In Your House If you want to make one positive change to your house, consider installing solar panels. You will appreciate the wide range of benefits. Solar Panels Are Economical The cost of purchasing and installing solar panels may be one of the wisest investments you have ever made. This is especially true if electricity is the main source of energy in your home. Utility bills for electricity are expensive. If you are concerned about cutting costs, the solution is solar panels. As the energy for the panels comes directly from natural sunlight, you will see an ...Read more 02-11-2015 || CaPRI To Present Country Report On Renewable Energy Options In Barbados Co-Executive director of The Caribbean Policy Research Institute (CaPRI), Dr Christopher Tufton, will this week travel to Barbados to chair a workshop on Barbados’ country report on renewable energy options at the Caribbean Development Bank Conference Centre in St Michael. With funding from the European Union (EU) under its Energy Facility II programme, CaPRI has been implementing the ‘Frameworks, Policies and Instruments for Mobilising ... Read more 02-11-2015 || Caribbean Energy Efficiency Lighting Project Makes Strides in Barbados and the OECS As the Caribbean Energy Efficiency Lighting Project (CEELP) draws to a close at year end, the CEELP team continues to support government partners in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean in transitioning to energy efficient lighting. On October 28 and 29, the team hosted a training seminar at the Radisson Aquatic Resort in Barbados focusing on project... Read more 02-11-2015 ||Cayman Approves First Utility-Scale Solar-Energy Generator Authorities in Cayman on Friday gave the nod for the first time to an overseas company for the generation of electricity and creation of a solar-energy installation. The new company, Entropy Cayman Solar Limited, will build a 20-acre, $1.4 million “utility-scale” solar farm in eastern Bodden Town, completing it by October 2016. Read more
NOVEMBER 2015 IN REVIEW BE IN THE KNOW ON ENERGY EFFICIENCY, ENVIRONMENT & CLIMATE CHANGE
26-11-2015 || Children Extremely Vulnerable To Climate Change, Warns UNICEF United Nations, (IPS) – Climate change will disproportionately impact children, particularly in high poverty areas, the UN children’s agency UNICEF warned, in a new report released here. The report, “Unless We Act Now,” illustrates the dangers of climate change on livelihoods and urges for action ... Read more
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26-11-2015 || Climate Change Puts Heat On Asia, Caribbean Ratings: Paris, France (AFP) – Climate change will put current credit ratings on sovereign debt at risk, especially in southeast Asia and the Caribbean, as the likelihood of natural disasters rises along with temperatures, rating agency Standard and Poor’s said on Thursday. “Our simulations indicate that climate change-related natural hazards can harm ... Read more 25-11-2015 ||Barbados Prime Minister’s Message Climate Change tings,” Standard and Poor’s analyst Marko MrsnikOn said in a statement. Bridgetown, Barbados – We stand on the edge of a precipice. Climate change threatens the very existence of many small island and low-lying coastal states in the Caribbean and around the world. Amongst other things, climate change has already caused extreme weather events, coastal erosion and changes in weather patterns that have had tragic consequences in our region and beyond. The international community has a chance to address ... Read more 23-11-2015 || Sinking Into Paradise: Climate Change Worsening Coastal Erosion In Trinidad Port of Spain, Trinidad, (IPS) – As unusually heavy rainfall battered Trinidad’s east coast a year ago, a lagoon here was overwhelmed, flooding a major access road to the island’s south-eastern communities. As the flood waters poured over Manzanilla beach, they washed sand away, caved in sections of road and collapsed a seawall at a tourist beach facility. Further damages ... 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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18-11-2015 || When the Water Runs Out In Antigua St. John’s, Antigua – Drought and climate change are changing the landscape for small farmers in Antigua and Barbuda with enormous implications for food security. Drought is generally defined as an extended period – a season, a year, or several years – of deficient precipitation compared to the statistical multi-year average for a region ... Read more 18-11-2015|| Jamaica’s Aging Water Systems Falter Under Intense Heat and Drought Kingston, Jamaica – This past summer Jamaicans sweltered through their third consecutive year of reduced rainfall resulting in wild fires, a cropkilling drought and daily water cuts. s temperatures exceeded 93.7 F (34.2 Celsius) in several areas, the Meteorological Service ... Read more 17-11-2015 || Islands Compete To Protect The Ocean St. Georges, Grenada – Marching up Depradine Street in Gouyave, children sing passed their neighbors’ front doors. Gouyave is a busy fishing town, where backdoors open right onto the sandy beach. Today, Gouyave has transformed into Hollywood. The cameras are rolling, as Mr. Killa, Grenada’s Soca superstar, films ... Read more 16-11-2015 || Panos Caribbean Launches ‘1.5 To Stay Alive’ Selfie Video Challenge Kingston, Jamaica – Panos Caribbean has launched the ‘1.5 To Stay Alive Selfie Video Challenge’, as part of efforts to amplify Caribbean voices on climate change. The challenge comes ... Read more 16-11-2015|| Major Adaption Targets Announced In The Fight Against Climate Change St. John’s, Antigua – Three major plans are in the pipeline for Antigua and Barbuda as the country continues to lead the charge in the fight against soaring electricity bills, climate change, global warming and greenhouse gases. While addressing a recent media session at the Environment ... Read more 16-11-2015 || Trinidad Rattled By Early Morning Earthquake Port of Spain, Trinidad (CMC) – An earthquake with a magnitude of 3.9 rattled Trinidad and Tobago on Monday, the Seismic Research Centre (SRC) of the University of the West Indies (UWI) has reported. It said that the quake was felt at around 8:36 am and was ... Read more 08-11-2015|| Immediate Push on Climate-Smart Development Can Keep More than 100 Million People Out of Poverty Washington – Climate change is already preventing people from escaping poverty, and without rapid, inclusive and climate-smart development, together with emissions-reductions efforts that protect the poor, there could be more than 100 million additional... Read more 05-11-2015 || CDB and European Investment Bank Agree To Work On Climate Change And Energy Issues Bridgetwown, Barbados – Officials from the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and the European Investment Bank (EIB), signed a Letter of Intent formalizing their intention to work together in the future to address pressing issues relating to climate change, renewable energy and ... Read more 03-11-2015 || Tiny Antigua And Barbuda Punches Above Its Weight In Climate Change Fight St. John’s , Antigua – The tiny twin-island nation of Antigua and Barbuda does not produce 0.01% of the harmful carbon emissions now polluting the atmosphere. In fact, Antigua and Barbuda and all of its Caribbean neighbours combined do not. Rather ... Read more