Sustainable Business Magazine 04/18 by Sustainable Business Magazine

SUSTAINABLE ISSUE 04/18

B U S I N E S S

M A G A Z I N E

CZITT CARBON ZERO INITIATIVE OF TRINIDAD & TOBAGO

WORLD

ENERGY BIOX CORPORATION SERVUS BARBADOS NATIONAL OIL COMPANY LIMITED ALSO FEATURED THIS ISSUE

ECOPOD • RENEWABLE INDUSTRIES CANADA • SILTRI

S U S TA I N I N G T O M O R R O W. T O D AY

SUSTAINABLE

B U S I N E S S

M A G A Z I N E

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Editor:

George Newell

Senior Writer:

Marcus Bonnano

Profile Writer:

Liam Pritchett

Contributors:

Alexandra Haas

Regional Managers:

Jacob Hall

Graeme Watts

Editorial Researchers: George Bell Web Administrator: Ashley Hewitt

CONTENTS ISSUE 04/18

Welcome to the latest North American edition of Sustainable Business Magazine Sustainable Business Magazine aims to spread awareness of the values of sustainability, as well as the exciting ways in which organizations continue to meet challenges and champion corporate social responsibility. We begin this issue with two new installments in our ongoing ‘Canadian Bioeconomy’ series, preceded by a foreword from Renewable Industries Canada. We spoke to Scott Lewis, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations and Strategy at World Energy/BIOX Corporation, about how the company is expanding the reach of renewable fuels, with biodiesel plants in Ontario and Texas. We also spoke to Joe Silvestri, President at SILTRI, about their Ontario oil processing plant, and the importance of working closely with suppliers to ensure a strong supply chain. As part of our ongoing focus on sustainable development in Trinidad and Tobago, we spoke to Donald Baldeosingh, Founder of the Carbon Zero Initiative of Trinidad and Tobago, and Ryane Rollock, Project Coordinator, about a major new organization dedicated to eliminating carbon emissions in Trinidad and Tobago. We also spoke to Raul Mohammed, Chief Operating Officer at Servus Limited, an integrated facilities management company, about using new technology to drive efficiency, improve building performance, and reduce resource consumption. In Barbados, we spoke to Richard Goddard, Renewable Energy Officer at Barbados National Oil Company Ltd (BNOCL). Since BNOCL was first featured in Sustainable Business Magazine in 2016, the company has been a principal driver of renewable energy production in Barbados, transitioning away from oil and gas and towards solar, wind, and biogas generation. In a guest editorial written by Alexandra Haas of Design Behavior Consulting, we look at an innovative new technology for reducing plastic waste from consumer products. The Ecopod, created by Henry and Gabriella Pino, is a smart-tech kiosk for dispensing cleaning and personal care products into refillable containers, currently in use in various residential complexes in South Florida. Details of upcoming sustainability events in North America throughout September and October can be found on our events calendar. Our featured events are the Water Expo (7th Edition) on August 29 & 30 at the MACC Convention Center in Miami, and the Energy Expo (formerly the MiaGreen Expo & Conference) on January 23 & 24 2019, also at the MACC Convention Center. We hope that you find this issue both interesting and inspiring. Thank you for reading. The Sustainable Business Magazine Team

Renewable Industries Canada (RIC)

World Energy / BIOX

SILTRI

Carbon Zero Initiative of Trinidad & Tobago (CZITT)

Servus Limited

Barbados National Oil Company Limited (BNOCL)

Ecopod

Global Events

Advertisers Index

COVER IMAGE: PROVIDED BY CZITT. CARBON ZERO INITIATIVE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

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RENEWABLE INDUSTRIES CANADA GREENFIELD GLOBAL.

CANADA’S PATH FORWARD

TO CLEAN GROWTH IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR A foreword to the ‘Canadian Bioeconomy’ series from Renewable Industries Canada.

Renewable Industries Canada (RICanada), founded in 1984 as the Canadian Renewable Fuels Association, is the foremost stakeholder representing Canada’s biofuels industry. Its members are bioeconomy leaders, producing low-carbon fuels and embracing cutting-edge technologies to improve

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production, reduce their carbon footprint, and create new high-value by-products. Clean-burning biofuels such as ethanol and biodiesel are proven to deliver a range of health, environmental, and economic benefits. They reduce pollution and smog and have helped turn the

corner in the fight against climate change by significantly reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the transportation sector – in some cases by as much as 99% compared to traditional fossil fuels. They have also generated billions of dollars in economic benefits and thousands of jobs in local communities. Today, renewable fuels are an established and integral part of Canada’s energy market. But with government’s growing interest and need for low-carbon fuels and products, this is just the beginning of what a resource- and talent-rich country such as Canada is capable of.

GREENFIELD GLOBAL.

ONCE IMPLEMENTED IN 2010, CANADA’S FEDERAL ETHANOL MANDATE HAD AN IMMEDIATE EFFECT, REDUCING TRANSPORTATION SECTOR GHG EMISSIONS.

ECONOMIC IMPACT AND GROWTH Canada’s renewable fuels sector generates $3.5 billion worth of annual economic activity, and has created over 14,000 jobs since 2007 – and there is more investment on the way thanks to RICanada members: • IGPC Ethanol Inc. is embarking on an ambitious expansion project, doubling capacity, which will make its ethanol plant one of the largest in Canada. It is the first ethanol plant in the world to implement Fiber Separation Technology that increases ethanol yield from corn and creates two new distillers grain products. • BIOX Corp. recently purchased, and is now upgrading, a shuttered biodiesel facility in Sombra, Ontario. • GreenField Global, Canada’s largest ethanol producer, is supplying excess biogenic

CO2, and in the near future will be supplying waste heat generated from its Chatham facility, to Truly Green Farms, a low-carbon greenhouse operation located adjacent to the ethanol plant, and is also working on a process to upgrade distillers’ corn oil (a co-product of ethanol production) into biodiesel and/or industrial lubricants. Canada’s domestic biofuels industry will continue to undergo substantial growth moving forward as additional government policies, designed to secure further GHG emission reductions, come into place at the provincial and federal levels. VOLUMETRIC REQUIREMENTS AND COMPLEMENTARY POLICIES Biofuels have been proven to be the most effective mechanism to reduce transportation

sector GHG emissions. Current volumetric requirements for 5% ethanol in gasoline and 2% biodiesel in diesel fuel deliver reductions of 4.2 megatons in GHG emissions every year. This is the environmental GHG equivalent to removing one million vehicles from Canada’s roads. In fact, it was only following the introduction of volumetric requirements that we witnessed a ‘bending of the curve’ as GHG emissions began to grow at a slower rate than gasoline sales. All levels of government in Canada are contemplating how to achieve new GHG reductions as part of the fight against climate change. It is critical that new policy measures, like carbon pricing and clean fuel standards, are complemented by known and reliable GHG reductions policies. For the transportation section, that includes expanding national volumetric requirements to 10% ethanol and 5% biodiesel, an action which would present an immediate opportunity to reduce GHG emissions by an additional 4.5 megatons per year. Available here and now, the use of biofuels requires no new expenditures by consumers, nor any modifications in consumer behaviour. The success of volumetric requirements is unequivocal. For this reason, new policies such as the Clean Fuel Standard under development by the Government of Canada should be implemented in concert with expanded volumetric requirements. We hope you enjoy reading the ‘Canadian Bioeconomy’ series in Sustainable Business Magazine. The series features detailed profiles of RICanada members and showcases how their efforts are contributing to a more environmentally and economically sustainable future. c SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

WORLD ENERGY / BIOX CORPORATION

THE NEW MERGER WITH WORLD ENERGY WILL BETTER EQUIP BIOX TO SERVICE DIVERSE CUSTOMERS ACROSS NORTH AMERICA.

CLEANING UP THE FUEL MARKET Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Scott Lewis, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations and Strategy at World Energy/BIOX, about renewable fuel, working closely with partners, and a significant new merger.

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“It’s a great time to be talking to you,” says Scott Lewis, Executive Vice President, Commercial Operations and Strategy at World Energy/BIOX Corporation. “In March 2018, we completed a merger with a U.S. company, World Energy LLC, which has given us a much larger reach from both a production and sales point of view. We have also just completed a transaction to buy AltAir, a 42 million usg renewable diesel plant located just south of Los Angeles. And our new plant in Western Ontario will be coming online in 2020. We’ve gone from having a 16-million-gallon facility here in Hamilton, Ontario and a 50% interest in a 90-million-gallon facility in Houston, Texas to now having 300 million gallons of capacity, from a combination of biodiesel and renewable diesel production assets. So there’s a lot happening over here!” Last time Sustainable Business Magazine spoke to BIOX Corporation, in mid-2015, the renewable fuels company operated a single facility in Hamilton, Ontario, using proprietary technology to process feedstocks, including rendered animal fats, used cooking oils, corn oil, and seed oils, into ASTM-D6751 grade biodiesel. (See Sustainable Business Magazine issue 6/15 for the full feature.) Since late 2013, as part of a joint venture agreement with Shell, BIOX have sold their biodiesel in Ontario, delivering renewable fuel by a dedicated pipeline to the local Shell distribution center for blending.

The new merger with World Energy will better equip BIOX to service diverse customers across North America. “The benefits of the merger are twofold,” explains Mr. Lewis. “We’ve added a new product to our list, with our new 42-million-gallon renewable diesel facility located in California, thus allowing us to offer our customers a broader range of products to suit their renewable fuel compliance needs. We can also deal with our customers at a larger scale, allowing us to generate supply out of Texas, Mississippi, Georgia, California, Pennsylvania, and Ontario. By bringing more assets to bear over a wider geographical area, we can provide better service while better integrating with our customers’ needs.”

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The FID Chemicals Solution

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Future International Diversified Inc.

FID Chemicals in Everyday Life

Endless applications improving our lives while protecting the environment. Every company in a thriving global bio-economy must contribute to sustainability. The decarbonizing economy involves accounting for every carbon atom used or discarded. FID Chemicals is well positioned to become your valued corporate partner in simultaneously growing your business and maintaining your corporate compliance towards sustainability issues. Whether you are producing either biodiesel or bioethanol, your other carbon co-products can add revenues to your income statement. Our experienced team has clients waiting for glycerin, free fatty acids (FFA), acid oils, corn oil and canola oil. FID chemicals has nurtured strong relationships with its clients worldwide for all grades of co-products and feedstocks. On top of that, our global team of professionals has the effective knowledge and experience to make all the logistical arrangements for the shipping and/or receiving of your commodities, irrespective of your plant’s location. Your organization can depend upon FID Chemicals for the planning and implementation of your business strategies for all your co-products. FID Chemicals is a division of Future International Diversified Inc., an international trading company with over 30 years of market presence.

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WORLD ENERGY / BIOX CORPORATION

BIODIESEL OFFERS A LESS-EXPENSIVE ALTERNATIVE TO RENEWABLE DIESEL.

RENEWABLE PRODUCTS Since commencing production of biodiesel at the Hamilton plant in 2007, BIOX has used animal fats, used cooking oils (UCO), and vegetable oils as feedstocks. It is then blended with petroleum diesel, reducing the amount of fossil fuels required to generate a specific amount of energy and contributing to lower carbon emissions by up to 122% when compared to petroleum diesel. Renewable diesel, which World Energy/BIOX has recently added to their product portfolio with the acquisition of the AltAir plant located in Paramount, CA, is also made from renewable

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waste biomass such as animal fats and used cooking oils, but is produced through a different process to biodiesel, and is a ‘drop-in’ fuel (a direct replacement to ultra-low-sulfur diesel) that mimics the diesel molecule. Consequently, it has better cold weather properties than biodiesel, burns much cleaner than petroleum diesel, and does not need to be blended with petroleum diesel to be used in a diesel engine. “One of the biggest changes brought about by our merger with World Energy LLC is that we’re now a producer and marketer of both these products,” says Mr. Lewis. “We

see this as a great offering for our customers, because they offer different avenues of compliance to parties obligated by the renewable fuels standards in both Canada and the U.S. Biodiesel offers a less-expensive alternative to renewable diesel, but it requires an investment in inline blending infrastructure. Put another way, biodiesel requires upfront capital costs for blending infrastructure, but offers lower operating costs and more compliance credits. On the other hand, the cost of renewable diesel, a drop-in fuel, is significantly higher, but doesn’t require any blending infrastructure. For Canadian winters,

the use of renewable diesel has considerable appeal – you could use this product year round. Whereas biodiesel may have a shorter blending season for operability reasons with cold weather, but you could save significant amounts on your cost of compliance by doing so. We see offering these two options as an essential part of our role to our customers, which is to be an integrated supplier, shortening the supply chain to allow them to eliminate as much cost as possible and to achieve compliance more efficiently.”

NEW PLANT, NEW MARKETS World Energy/BIOX’s new operation in Western Ontario will offer both options to its customers. It will have production of 20M usgs of biodiesel and 7M usgs of renewable diesel, strengthening their capacity to supply both fuels to the Canadian market. “We’re working with FORGE Hydrocarbons, whose management team we’ve worked closely with for years,” says Mr. Lewis. “They will be building the plant, while we’ll be supplying the feedstock, operating the

plant, and marketing the finished products. Petroleum companies, for the most part, produce petroleum, not renewable fuels. But all of them agree that compliance, and doing so in the most efficient manner possible, is something they have to integrate into their distribution systems. We can help them achieve that.” As more and more markets develop low-carbon and clean fuel standards, World Energy/BIOX see additional incentives to invest in continuous optimization with

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WORLD ENERGY / BIOX CORPORATION going to locate your plants. Also, a few years ago, we invested several million dollars in upgrading our glycerin refining. Now we produce glycerin of greater than 98% purity which replaces petroleum-based chemicals in industrial applications. A better carbon intensity score for our products makes them more advantageous for our customers.”

the goal of improving the carbon intensity values of their products. “For a number of years here in Ontario, we have been looking at every capital project in terms of how it makes the plant more efficient, and therefore lowers the carbon footprint of the fuel,” says Mr. Lewis. “When Canada’s Clean Fuel Standard comes out of Ottawa in 2019/20, it will incentivize fuels with better carbon intensity values, as opposed to just being volumetric obligations. That will mean you

can generate more compliance credits from the same volume of biodiesel or renewable diesel if it has been made from a lower-carbon feedstock like waste materials, if less carbon has been emitted during its production. Here in Ontario, we operate off a very clean grid, which means we have a much lower carbon intensity than if we located our plant in a different jurisdiction which, say, still generated electricity from coal. It’s certainly a factor when you’re considering where you’re

REGIONAL INCENTIVES Change at the federal level of the United States government is creating new challenges in the market for renewable fuels, exempting more refiners than ever from the U.S. Renewable Fuel Standard. “Under former Administrator Scott Pruitt, the EPA redefined the small refinery exemption waiver,” says Mr. Lewis. “In the RFS Statute hardship exemption could be granted to refineries with production levels below 75,000 barrels per day and only under very specific conditions. Typically, the EPA gave out an average of 6 waivers per year. So far, this year, they’ve issued more than 25. They have not disclosed who those parties were that received the exemptions, but some of those companies are having to disclose it, because they report publicly. We’re seeing some

Congratulations to our friends at BIOX Creating a synergy of value between our products and our customers

Our partners in sustainably produced, environmentally friendly products Mike Bhesania-President

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of the largest refiners in the United States receive exemptions for their smaller refineries, which is taking away any equalization that was previously given to the true small refineries experiencing economic hardship. These small refinery exemptions are creating demand destruction for renewable fuels. Now the obligated parties are selling back into the market these compliance units they don’t need, having a significantly depressive effect on the value of the compliance units. This directly subtracts from the value chain of producing renewable fuels.” However, even as US federal-level changes negatively impact the biofuel market,

states and provinces continue to adopt their own standards which drive refiners increasingly to seek out producers of lower-carbon fuel like World Energy/BIOX. “Under former Administrator Scott Pruitt, the EPA seemed to be taking a step backwards, but it’s also causing the states and the provinces to double down on this,” says Mr. Lewis. “In many place, they’re incentivizing lower-carbon fuels, rather than just any renewable fuels. Because they want to reap the benefit of cleaner air in their province or state, it’s driving the way the markets are developing.” “Around the world, people are looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions,” says

Mr. Lewis. “25% of the world’s carbon is generated by the transportation sector, which makes it the sector that can see the greatest reductions of carbon, where our products can have the greatest single impact. We need to continue to work towards achieving more integration, stronger relationships, and closer ties with obligated parties in order to better service their needs. We will be looking to acquire more facilities, which are going to fit in with our overall plan. The questions we ask are: ‘Where do our customers need to be serviced?’ and ‘How can we generate lower carbon emitting renewable fuels?’” c

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SILTRI

“WE AT SILTRI ARE VERY PROUD OF OUR WORK WITH OUR SUPPLIER PARTNERS, THE RELATIONSHIPS THAT WE HAVE GROWN WITH CUSTOMERS, AND THE IMPACT THAT WE ARE GENERATING FOR THE ENVIRONMENT.”

FROM WASTE

TO FUEL Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Joe Silvestri, President at SILTRI, about converting food waste into environmentally-friendly fuel, working closely with suppliers and partners, and expanding into the United States. SILTRI, an oil processing plant based in Hamilton, Ontario, uses an exclusive industrial process to remove impurities and other unwanted elements deleterious to the production of biodiesel from cooking oils. The plant has an hourly capacity of 15MT/HR (metric tons per hour) and a weekly capacity of 2500MT. The compa12 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

ny was founded in 2008 as a producer of ASTM-standard biofuel. The plant was originally designed as a full-service operation, with the dual capabilities of being able to refine crude organic feedstocks as well as converting them through a continuous batch process into finished biodiesel. Today, SILTRI purchases used cooking oil

(UCO) from independent collectors and food processing plants, processes the oil, and subsequently distributes high-quality feedstock to biofuel companies in North America and Central Europe. Starting out, SILTRI’s greatest challenge as a smaller producer was competing for a place in the market against larger established biodiesel producers. During the first year of operations, the deficiency in the market for the supply of high quality feedstock for biodiesel producers became evident, which created a unique opportunity for the company. At the time, the facility had secured funding from the Canadian ecoENERGY for Biofuels Program, equating to $7.5 million in incentives for fuel production. This created a quandary for SILTRI, as redefining the business would mean the loss of the funding. Plant president and owner Joe Silvestri decided nonetheless that changing the business model to a facility one hundred percent vested in the processing and refinement of biodiesel feedstocks was more viable and

potentially profitable. “At the time we were the only fully-owned biofuel plant under the Canadian ecoENERGY for Biofuels Program, and we made a decision to withdraw from the program,” says Mr. Silvestri. “It wasn’t a decision made with sudden inclination. We really had to analyze every facet of the old and new business models to come to the conclusion that it was the best option moving forward.” Since that decision was made, SILTRI haven’t looked back. The entire plant was retooled in order to process the maximum amount of feedstock in the most efficacious manner possible. Since some of the equipment used to convert used cooking oil into biodiesel is also useful in the refinement process of the feedstock, those components were retained or upgraded. Biodiesel-specific equipment was divested of, and new state-of-the-art equipment was acquired in order to meet the owner’s goal of processing oils in real-time. The equipment also had to be adaptable to the variable temperatures of

the product entering the plant, which in the winter months looks and behaves as a thick slurry when temperatures dip down to -25 degrees Celsius. Walking through the plant, a visitor hears a whirlwind of processes taking place, as pumps turn on and off, a centrifuge spins at high velocity, and steam boils off. Incredibly, the entire plant is automated and operates in a continuous fashion, needing only two operators, even at maximum capacity. “Our unique advantage when working with customers can be attributed to our origins as a biodiesel plant,” say Mr. Silvestri. “We know first-hand the specific quality of feedstock that is required to produce ASTM

standard biodiesel, as well as the importance for a biodiesel producer to secure a reliable and consistent supply of feedstock.” A RENEWABLE FEEDSTOCK Biodiesel is fuel derived from renewable sources, including vegetable oils and waste restaurant grease. Substituting biodiesel for petroleum in conventional diesel fuel reduces greenhouse gas emissions from diesel engines and contributes to energy security, reducing the need for imported petroleum in Canada. This energy source must however be refined before the biodiesel producer can effectively use it for conversion SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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SILTRI STRATEGICALLY LOCATED IN HAMILTON ONTARIO, CANADA, WITH CLOSE PROXIMITY TO MAJOR HIGHWAY ARTERIES SERVING LOCAL CANADIAN MARKETS AS WELL AS THE NORTH EASTERN UNITED STATES. 35 MIN FROM THE NIAGARA FALLS, NEW YORK BORDER, AND 3.5 HOURS FROM THE DETROIT, MICHIGAN BORDER.

into fuel. This is where SILTRI’s proprietary process comes in, taking a waste product and converting it into a valuable commodity. The actual refining process is fraught with difficulties and challenges, owing to the variable nature of the feedstock and impurities it contains. In the process of making foodstuffs, restaurants and manufacturing plants introduce water, sediment, soaps, metals, and other contaminants into the oil, which can adversely affect the chemical process of making biofuel. For this reason, biodiesel plants strategically source fats and oils that contain minimum amounts of moisture, insoluble impurities, and unsaponifiable matter, collectively referred to as MIU. SILTRI’s process results in an extremely clean product which can more easily be converted to biodiesel.

SILTRI EMPLOYEE MANAGING THE OPERATION OF THE PLANT.

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“The MIU is extremely low,” says Mr. Silvestri. “There is no sediment in the oil and there is no emulsion, only moisture which we can take down to 0.4% as measured via Karl Fischer titration. The principal benefit is our product doesn’t need to undergo any further processing or refinement before being used as a feedstock. Biodiesel producers such as BIOX Canada utilize our raw feedstock in their production of biofuel. In addition, we do conversion work for other companies that can’t get their product up to market specifications.” To achieve such high levels of purity the product must go through many different steps, some of which are incremental or dynamic in nature. All incoming product gets offloaded and rough screened before

being captured in a large 65-ton holding vessel. The product then goes through the proprietary processes before being loaded into one of two large 23,000-gallon tanks, similar to those used by the petrochemical industry in Western Canada to hold frac oil. The product finally gets pumped into tanker trucks holding 37.5MT in under 6 minutes, using specially spec’d pumps more akin to usage by large petrochemical companies offloading crude oil from a sea freighter. SILTRI’s ‘go big or go home’ philosophy is best exemplified in the fact that a quad axle semi-trailer and truck can roll onto the property carrying a full load of used cooking oils and leave one hour later with clean product. BUILDING SUPPLIERS To ensure a reliable, consistent supply of high-quality product for biodiesel producers, SILTRI works closely with their suppliers, purchasing used cooking oil from collectors and food processors. The suppliers working with SILTRI are typically independent collectors, all of different sizes, using trucks to collect waste oil from their contracted restaurants or other food processing facilities. Vendors are paid on a yielded market formula basis, utilizing the Jacobsen market price reporting agency. By taking this approach, SILTRI shares market movements with their suppliers. “We set ourselves apart from the rest, not only by the quality of our product, but also by the way in which we conduct our business,” says Mr. Silvestri. “We’re unusual because we work to build our suppliers and have them grow along with us. No-one else does that in this industry, which can be very competitive. We can assist with the setup of their operations, troubleshooting, and also help to safeguard against foreseeable obstacles where necessary. We recognize that the startup phase for these suppliers can be a struggle, and so we ensure that payment for their product is immediate. We pay on the spot for oil, which is uncommon as terms of net 30, 60, or even 90 days are the standard in the industry. In some cases, we pay in advance for products as required. This is important because it leads to long-term, lasting relationships. It also equates to a strong reputation of honesty, trustworthiness, and transparency in our business. Every collector enters the market with a determination for success, and we work hand-in-hand with them to achieve that. In this industry, it’s not only the quality of the product you produce, but it’s also the

partnerships you build. We welcome new suppliers as we continue to work towards growing our supplier base.” SOUTH OF THE BORDER Recently, SILTRI started their expansion into the United States. A sales team was sent across the border into the major states in close proximity to Ontario to scout potential sources of feedstock. The excursion was revelatory, with many new sources being found. As a result, SILTRI is in the midst of coordinating oil collection facilities across the border, with an objective of having a presence in the U.S. market. “We are in a fortunate position because we are within very close proximity to the New York state border, and quite close to Michigan as well,” says Mr. Silvestri. “We want to take advantage of our geographical location to grow. In the longer term, we are going to keep building, continuously looking towards the future and aligning ourselves according

TOP LOADING A TRACTOR TRAILER AT THE SILTRI FACILITY. LOADING CAPABILITY 2,500 US GALLONS PER MINUTE.

to potential growth. We’re always looking for ways to extend our reach within this industry. It’s a process of recognizing areas of potential, taking hold of opportunities and overcoming obstacles.”

SAMPLE OF SILTRI’S ULTRIMAX REFINED USED COOKING OIL (UCO).

LOGISTICAL SUPPORT One such obstacle that SILTRI is currently in the process of remedying is transportation. Not satisfied with current off-the-shelf solutions, Mr. Silvestri decided to construct his own 42MT, state-of-the-art vacuum collection tractor trailer unit, the largest of its kind in Canada. Working with local companies to secure the steel, as well as others to fabricate a rolling substructure and ancillary components to create a huge 7 axle dumping trailer, the trailer has full vacuum capability and a large 600CFM pump to facilitate loading of the cooking oil from various collectors, suppliers, and food manufacturing plants. The truck has also been designed to carry product cross-border, adhering to trucking specifications in both Canada and the United States. The truck will be online and in use by the end of this summer. “This benefits the customer base in efficiency and ease of transport logistics, drastically reducing wait time for available trucking,” says Mr. Silvestri. “It also ensures there will be 100% no cross-contamination of product, as SILTRI is in complete control. Previously we outsourced our logistics to a third party, but it was cost prohibitive. We were at the mercy of the various shippers who were not able to meet our pricing, pickup, and delivery criteria. Acquiring our own truck yields dividends in both efficiency, as we can carry more product per trip, and cost, which is significantly lower despite the additional equipment outlay.” SILTRI has also begun securing feedstock using railcars, giving the company another low-cost shipping solution, offering coast-to-coast coverage. SILTRI’s internal mandate is to continually improve their processes by taking advantage of advancing technology and thinking out side of the box in seeking new ways to produce a superior product. “We at SILTRI are very proud of our work with our supplier partners, the relationships that we have grown with customers, and the impact that we are generating for the environment,” says Mr. Silvestri. “There are not many people or businesses who can say their work has contributed to the betterment of the future for the next generation by playing an important role in the creation of clean energy, but we can say just that.” c SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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CARBON ZERO INITIATIVE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

THERE ARE POTENTIAL ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE FOR TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO AS A RESULT OF ‘GOING GREEN’.

LAUNCH OF CAMPAIGN AGAINST SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. TREE PLANTING.

DECARBONIZING

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Donald Baldeosingh, Founder of the Carbon Zero Initiative of Trinidad and Tobago, and Ryane Rollock, Project Coordinator, about assessing greenhouse gas emissions, the potential of moringa trees to sequester carbon, and working with the next generation of sustainability leaders. The Carbon Zero Initiative of Trinidad and Tobago (CZITT) is a Trinidadian non-profit organization offering environmental leadership, advocacy, and support to government,

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businesses, and the general public, towards the ultimate goal of Trinidad and Tobago becoming carbon neutral. An offshoot of the ENMAN Group, and founded by ENMAN

President Donald Baldeosingh, CZITT (pronounced ‘seize it’) uses a five-pronged strategy to promote carbon neutrality in Trinidad and Tobago: Conducting research,

reposition our economy into new areas and away from relying on the oil and gas sector. There are potential economic opportunities available for Trinidad and Tobago as a result of ‘going green’.” BIG CHALLENGES, BIG REWARDS As a small country with a major oil and gas industry, Trinidad and Tobago is one of the highest emitters of carbon dioxide per capita in the world, second only to Qatar. “We intend to improve public knowledge about ways to trim wastage by improving efficiencies at home and at work,” says Mr. Baldeosingh. “CZITT pledges to work with all like-minded organisations and persons. It is certainly meant to be an important part of the change we need to make in Trinidad and Tobago. We are addressing various sectors in our projects and programs. We started out with schools, and we are now also looking at industry, at municipalities, at waste management, and at transportation.” “A lot of Trinidadians and Tobagonians don’t see how their daily activities can affect carbon emissions,” says Ryane Rollock, Project Coordinator at CZITT. “A big part of what we’re doing is making people more aware of the simple things they can do. We started with a particular focus on youth. Former President Anthony Carmona introduced the concept of the child advocate, and the way children and young people impact their communities through the projects they are passionate about. We chose to begin our work with projects at schools,

because it allows us to introduce an awareness of carbon neutrality to the next generation of this country’s leadership.” PROJECT ZERO Project Zero is CZITT’s flagship project. “It’s a school-based greening project where we go into a partnership with a primary or secondary school or a university, determine their carbon emission output, and then introduce strategies to reduce carbon emissions generated at that institution, finally offsetting any remaining emissions,” explains Ms. Rollock. “We launched Project Zero on November 27th last year with a project at Presentation College, San Fernando, one of the country’s top boys’ schools. Since then, we launched in St. Augustine Girls’ High School on January 24th. We’re partnering with the University of the West Indies for Master’s level students to perform energy, waste, water and vehicle emissions audits. Working with tertiary education is a symbiotic relationship: The students get to conduct their research as real life projects, and we get volunteers to help make our projects successful.” These students conduct a thorough audit of all sources of carbon emissions.

MEDIA LAUNCH OF CZITT NATIONAL SECONDARY SCHOOLS CLIMATE QUIZ-SPEAKERSINCLUDING JUSTICE ANTHONY CARMONA-FORMER PRESIDENT OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO.

creating awareness, supporting best practices, fostering the creation of carbon offsets, and measuring progress in reducing overall carbon emissions. (To read more about the ENMAN Group, see Sustainable Business Magazine issues 7/15 and 4/16.) “Trinidad and Tobago subscribed to the Paris Agreement, and we have made commitments to reduce our carbon and overall greenhouse gas emissions,” says Donald Baldeosingh, Founder of CZITT. “We have also made commitments to inject renewable energy into our mix. However, today, we are well behind these targets. The Carbon Zero Initiative of Trinidad and Tobago was created partly to address this. We are also aware that, as the world moves towards renewable energy production, we need to SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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CARBON ZERO INITIATIVE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO ST AUGUSTINE GIRLS HIGH SCHOOL. SIGNING OF PLEDGE TO BE CARBON NEUTRAL.

“Energy usage emits carbon, water generation, each has an energy component to it, and waste also has a carbon footprint,” says Ms. Rollock. “While we conduct our audits, we’re actively exploring different ways we can implement reduction methods at these schools. Even as we determine the baseline for the schools, we are already educating the students through competitions and projects. For example, at St. Augustine Girls’ High School, they are talking to their students about sorting waste and recycling, and about more efficient energy practices, LAUNCH OF CZITT FORESTS OF FAME AT PRESENTATION COLLEGE SAN FERNANDO.

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to get them in the mind-frame before these strategies are implemented.” 1000 TREES CHALLENGE Another CZITT initiative at schools and businesses is the 1000 Trees Challenge. “The Challenge emerged from an initiative called Forests of Fame,” explains Ms. Rollock. “We thought it would be great to honor distinguished persons at schools and elsewhere through the planting of trees, which of course also sequester carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. We then decided we would

map these trees on our carbon offset mapping system, which we are developing with another non-profit, the RSC Tech Club. You take photos of the trees on a smartphone or tablet and submit the photo with a GPS location, and then we put that information into the system, which will be used to map who planted the trees and who receives the carbon offsets. From this, we developed the 1000 Trees Challenge.” The 1000 Trees Challenge is a collaboration with the Caribbean Network for Empowerment Through Training (CNETT). “The overall aim of the Challenge is to plant one million trees throughout Trinidad and Tobago, sequestering carbon from the atmosphere and simultaneously promoting agro-entrepreneurship,” says Ms. Rollock. “It is structured as a competition, where prizes are awarded for the annual number of trees planted by an organization. 1000 is the minimum in order to be considered, but organizations are able to plant as many trees as they want. We encourage various organizations, whether it’s schools, industry, or business, to participate and help offset their carbon emissions.” GREEN BUSINESS The trees used in the 1000 Trees Challenge have the potential benefits for the local economies too. “We’re focusing on the moringa tree,” says Ms. Rollock. “This tree has been present in the country for well over a century,

DONATION OF CARBON CREDITS TO ST AUGUSTINE GIRLSâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; HIGH SCHOOL.

NAPARIMA COLLEGE 1000 TREES CHALLENGE PLEDGE.

LAUNCH OF CAMPAIGN AGAINST SINGLE USE PLASTIC BAGS. OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT. TREE PLANTING.

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CARBON ZERO INITIATIVE OF TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO CZITT PARTICIPATES IN THE ENVIRONMENTAL LEADERSHIP ACADEMY.

so it is readily adapted and available. There has been a lot of research into the moringa tree, both for its many health benefits and as a tree which does a very good job of sequestering carbon dioxide. This is important for us, because it allows us to be accurate in determining how much carbon dioxide is actually removed by these trees, and to measure the impact of the project. We are working with small farmers to produce the trees, and we hope, as more organizations express interest in the Challenge, that these farmers can engage in agro-entrepreneurship. Parts of the moringa tree are used for many health foods in Europe and other Western countries. By using our mapping system to track where the trees are planted, small farmers who don’t necessarily have a lot of land space can visit the trees at the

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hosting locations, and could harvest those trees, getting the leaves, seeds, and bark. This would allow us to generate a whole moringa industry.” YOUNG CLIMATE EXPERTS CZITT’s latest major project is the National Secondary Schools’ Climate Quiz. “The quiz is about awareness leading to action throughout Trinidad and Tobago,” says Ms. Rollock. “It will be open to secondary school students, with six members on a team. They will compete against each other, answering questions on climate matters, which could be anything from renewable energy to sustainable development to waste matters. The questions will be focused on Trinidad and Tobago and our impacts, as well as our commitments, and what we can learn from

others. We know from our previous work with schools that this quiz can really have a major effect. We also aim to televise the competition, so that the wider society can participate as well.” By strategically focusing on young people in Trinidad and Tobago, CZITT aim to have an outsize impact. “Most of our projects have this youth element, because in the very near future, these will be the policymakers of our country and world,” says Ms. Rollock. “This is also the generation that will be most affected if climate change is not addressed. We’ve seen how inspiring children and young people can lead to additional benefits. With one of our schools, Brazil Secondary School, they started the 1000 Trees Challenge on the 20th of April. The students of this school previously had a walkabout in their rural community, promoting reduction of plastic bags. They partnered with a local grocery store to eliminate the use of plastic bags, and to generate money for reusable bags, which they gave out to members of the community. Since then, we’ve seen a lot more grocery chains in Trinidad who have embraced that message, and who are reducing the use of plastic bags. It goes to show that taking the conversation out there helps the entire society to look at our practices and develop ways to address the issues that are facing us right now.”

BRAZIL SECONDARY SCHOOL. WALK AGAINST PLASTIC BAGS.

DEMONSTRATING POTENTIAL Another CZITT project involving schools, carbon reduction, and entrepreneurs is the Tobago Schools Solar project. The objectives of this initiative are to install solar power at 10 schools in Tobago while training a cadre of technicians in the design, installation and operation of solar power systems. This will support Tobago in realising its objectives of clean, green, and serene, while creating new business opportunities for locals. The project is being developed with the assistance of the High Commission of India to Trinidad and Tobago.

CZITT is always looking for innovative ways to offset carbon. Students at the ‘CZITT Schools’ are encouraged to engage with their community to create carbon offsets and donate these to the schools. For example, people have been switching from gasoline to hybrid vehicles and donating their carbon savings to schools. Recently, Glenn Sharp of Wetland Treatment Systems in Canada donated 100 tons of certified carbon credits to St Augustine Girls’ High School. CZITT is also working with an industrial partner on a new pilot project. “It is a well-known international brand, and we are

working with them to develop a carbon map of their processes,” says Mr. Baldeosingh. “Then we will develop a strategy for them to become carbon neutral. Again, though this is a standalone project, we view this as a demonstration of what is possible, so we can replicate it among other industries.” “Even though we’re a new non-profit, and some of our projects are just starting up, we’re very proud of the work we’ve done already,” says Ms. Rollock. “We view these activities as important steps towards achieving a carbon neutral future for Trinidad and Tobago.” c

LAUNCH OF 1000 TREES CHALLENGE AT BRAZIL SECONDARY SCHOOL.

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SERVUS LIMITED

AS TECHNOLOGY CONSTANTLY PROGRESSES, SERVUS LIMITED SEES NEW OPPORTUNITIES TO FURTHER REDUCE THE ENERGY FOOTPRINT OF THEIR CLIENTS’ BUILDINGS.

EFFICIENCY

THROUGH EXPERTISE Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Raul Mohammed, Chief Operating Officer at Servus Limited, about sustainability, comprehensive management solutions, and quality control.

For the past fifteen years, Servus Limited has been bringing specialist facilities management expertise and technologies to commercial and residential properties in Trinidad and Tobago. With over 2 million square feet currently under management, Servus manages everything from janitorial and washroom services to utilities, building 22 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

maintenance to landscaping, all through a combination of high quality in-house services and trusted outsourced contractors. What’s more, by utilizing some of the latest cutting-edge technologies, Servus Limited is reducing building energy consumption, improving their clients’ efficiencies, and in return saving them money.

Servus is certified by the Safe TO Work in Trinidad & Tobago (STOW-TT) body and is registered as a high-risk contractor. This certification affirms a commitment to operate with the highest levels of HSE performance in the facilities management sector, and is representative of the company’s dedication to quality, safety, and efficiency.

financial institutions in the Caribbean who, like Servus, prioritize efficiency and sustainability. “Guardian Life of the Caribbean are real leaders in their industry,” says Mr. Mohammed. “They effectively manage their energy consumption, their carbon footprint, and any way in which they affect the environment. We have implemented some new technologies and partnered with the energy management company ITEM to carry out energy audits at five of their locations. Since implementation, we have saved about 2030% annually on their energy bills.” To achieve these kinds of energy savings, a willingness to apply innovative and

new approaches is critical. “We’re constantly evaluating and improving our methods,” says Mr. Mohammed. “Everything is automated, metered, and measured on a daily basis. The building management system (BMS), new lighting and air-conditioning systems, the Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS), and the management processes are all innovative solutions that we incorporate into our approach.” As technology constantly progresses, Servus Limited sees new opportunities to further reduce the energy footprint of their clients’ buildings. “We have some brand new projects kicking in, including daylight

“Initially, we were formed as a joint venture between Guardian Holdings Limited and Carillion (Caribbean) Limited,” explains Raul Mohammed, Chief Operating Officer at Servus Ltd. “The company changed hands about three years ago to the three we have today: RBC Royal Bank, Guardian Group, and Sagicor Life Inc. RGM Limited is our parent company, and we also manage their portfolio of A Class buildings.” ENVIRONMENTAL GUARDIANS Servus manages several buildings for Guardian Life of the Caribbean (a subsidiary of Guardian Group), one of the leading SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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SERVUS LIMITED

harvesting,” says Mr. Mohammed. “This is a lighting control strategy that takes the time of day into account and dims or switches off lights as they are being used or as people are entering and leaving the buildings. The

system uses daylight to offset the amount of electric lighting needed to properly light an area, in order to reduce overall energy consumption. These types of energy saving processes are not typical for this sector, but we are able to use them because some of our clients are so environmentally conscious. Technologies such as these are beneficial to us as well as our clients. They allow us to create more pleasant environments and workspaces for building occupants, and they also save money and improve environmental performance.” OTHER WAYS TO SAVE There are other more conventional methods for energy conservation that Servus has implemented for their various clients. “One of the locations we manage is located on the southern coast of the island,” explains

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Mr. Mohammed. “We manage their administrative building. We recently changed all of the 600-watt metal light fixtures to improved LED lighting. Then we maximized their effectiveness by shutting down the building as soon as all the occupants left. The building then switches to ‘unoccupied mode’, which keeps it cool but not as cool as if it was still occupied.” Through careful analysis, Servus helps their clients reduce energy consumption in a strategic, building-specific way. “Another client in the energy sector recently engaged us to streamline their energy use and help reduce their carbon footprint,” says Mr. Mohammed. “We are presently putting together options for them based on the consumption of their lights, plugs, and air-conditioning system. From there, we will be able to recommend solutions and give an approximation

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SERVUS LIMITED

of the overall cost of those solutions, set off against the potential savings and based on the initial analysis. Each solution involves a lot of assessment, benchmarking, and consultation. We also need to take into account longevity, potential future technological advances, and how these various factors will affect effectiveness.”

COMPREHENSIVE FACILITIES MANAGEMENT Servus is now moving towards providing more solutions in-house, in order to provide clients with improved efficiency and quality. “Moving these services inhouse has been extremely interesting for us,” says Mr. Mohammed. “Our team in

the field were accustomed to a contractor coming on-site and managing the KPIs. Now, it’s one of their colleagues executing these tasks. We are at the forefront, which means we have the extra responsibility to guarantee that everything is done right and to the best of our ability. Everyone is on board, and we have reached a point where we can see these new modes of operation working, which enables us to be more proactive. Working in-house reduces costs for the client, and also means we are not dependent on a third party to manage our quality control for us.” ONGOING ASSESSMENT In addition to cost savings, Servus provides clients with a thorough and continuous assessment of their assets. “We utilize a Computerized Maintenance Management System (CMMS) and all of the relevant data from our clients’ assets are entered into that software for easy maintenance,” says Mr. Mohammed. “We can also track if an asset’s maintenance costs are increasing, hypothesize why they are increasing, and then pre-

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dict the lifespan of that asset. We are also able to determine the works which need to be executed to minimize the loss. Overall, this means that we carry out continual management of those resources, not just when we are initially implementing strategies. We have ongoing training in the software and technology that we utilize, and generally try to stay ahead of the latest developments within our industry. Every year, we attend the

International Facilities Management Association (IFMA) World Workplace, which allows us to keep up-to-date on industry standards and best practices.” FOREVER LOOKING FORWARD “The new ISO standard for facility management is really the next big thing for us,” says Mr Mohammed. “The key benefit of this is showing our clients the extremely high stand-

ard at which we operate. We were the first company in the facilities management industry to become ISO 9001 certified in Trinidad. We are continuously learning, continuously developing, and always looking toward the future. Hopefully, we will be the first to achieve this new certification. We are always looking for ways to get better at what we do, to reduce energy waste and to reduce costs for our clients.” c

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BARBADOS NATIONAL OIL COMPANY LIMITED

BNOCL HAVE BEGUN A PROJECT TO INCREASE THEIR ON-SITE SOLAR GENERATION MORE THAN FIFTEENFOLD.

RENEWABLE ENERGY

PIONEERS Sustainable Business Magazine speaks to Richard Goddard, Renewable Energy Officer at Barbados National Oil Company Limited, about solar, wind, and biogas opportunities, transitioning away from oil and gas production, and an ambitious new national plan for electricity generation.

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The decline began in the year 2000. Up to that point, since Barbados National Oil Company Limited (BNOCL) was founded in 1983, the state-owned company had extracted a healthy average of 1.20 BBL/D/1k (1,200 barrels of crude per day) from the local Woodbourne oil field, at the border of Saint Philip and Christchurch parishes. In January 1999, Barbadian oil production reached an all-time high of 1.90 BBL/D/1k. It was not to last. From the year 2000, oil production levels swiftly plummeted, reaching the record low of 0.77 BBL/D/1k in January 2009. Natural gas production followed a similar trajectory, from around 1,600,000 MCF (million cubic feet) in 2000 to around 800,000 MCF today. “We had a major decline in our production of oil and gas,” says Richard Goddard, Renewable Energy Officer. “We realized we needed to diversify our portfolio. One part of that diversification involves the increased use of natural gas. We import liquefied natural gas (LNG) and re-gas it in our facility for distribution. We also began investing in renewables – everything from solar, to wind, to biogas.” NATIONAL TRANSITION In early 2017, last time Sustainable Business Magazine spoke to BNOCL, the company was in the process of expanding their existing solar photovoltaic portfolio, at the time consisting of 150kw located at the Woodbourne facility, to 275kw. BNOCL were also working with the village of Oistins, where they used solar panels and a grid-tied battery backup system to provide power for the Oistins Fish Fry, a popular tourist attraction. These smaller-scale projects were

intended to demonstrate the viability of solar PV and renewables in Barbados. Today, these initial forays are part of a large-scale national drive to rapidly transition to renewable sources of electricity. “Since we last spoke, we’ve had an election,” explains Mr. Goddard. “The new government wants to have 100% of electricity in Barbados generated through renewable sources by the year 2030. We’re looking at up to 250MW of electricity that would need to be generated. We at BNOCL are planning to be effective in playing our part in that drive for renewable energy, through biomethane, solar, wind, or any other method. We want to provide between 10% and 20% of overall renewable energy production in Barbados, with the national utility taking on 50%. Since our earlier project, there’s greatly increased confidence in renewable energy technology, including the ease of deploying solar. We are delivering on our promise to transition away from being an oil and gas company, becoming an energy company.” SOLAR EXPANSION Since completing 275kw of solar at Woodbourne, BNOCL have begun a project to increase their on-site solar generation more than fifteenfold “We’ve been working with the International Development Bank (IDB) to install an additional 4.5MW on BNOCL-controlled properties,” says Mr. Goddard. “We’re now evaluating the tenders. They will be awarded by October of November, and we’re hoping to begin implementation in February next year. That will involve our compounds, and our old oil wells, which we’re transforming into a green site which will have PV for electricity generation.” SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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BARBADOS NATIONAL OIL COMPANY LIMITED

INSTALLATION OF PHOTOVOLTAIC PANELS AT OISTINS BAY GARDENS.

Prescod Blvd., Harbour Road, Bridgetown, BB11145, Barbados, W.I. Tel: (246) 426-5214, 426-1327, 426-2551 • Fax: (246) 436-4877 Email: centralcustoms@caribsurf.com

RECONFIGURED PIPE RACK

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Manager felt it would be a win-win: BNOCL is looks to increase our footprint with renewable energy, and the schools get a new source of revenue and ways to save energy.” BNOCL looked at twenty-one different secondary schools. “We spent last year conducting assessments,” explains Mr. Goddard. “We checked their roofs; we did walkthrough

UNCOVERED PIPE RACK 1

but they don’t necessarily have a significant amount of revenue. We would lease this space from the schools, paying them rent, then install the PV and sell that directly to the grid. We would also assist the schools in their energy management by conducting energy audits and providing information on how to reduce their energy bill. Our General

IF NECESSARY (STRUCTURE 3: 40'-0" x 12'-0")

In addition to this, BNOCL have begun a project to install a planned 10MW of PV on the roofs of local secondary schools. “Our General Manager has a keen interest in what we can do to help the wider communities,” says Mr. Goddard. “We knew that these schools have a significant amount of roof space, as well as space on the ground,

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energy audits of their facilities; we looked at possible interconnecting points. We also did a secondary analysis of the roof’s structure, seeing if they could withstand a Category 4 hurricane. Of these schools, we identified nine we’re going to start with, doing some remedial work on the structure, then we’ll proceed with our installation. After that, we’ll move onto the remaining schools, which will require more structural work. We’re going to do all the design and installation in-house, continuing to build our internal capacity. We anticipate we’re going to do some of the roof work this summer, and we should be

able to start installing around next March. We’re going to do the installations during the spring break, and then progressively on weekends so as not to be disruptive to the daily operations of the school.” WIND POWER BNOCL are also currently studying various sites for the suitability of installing wind turbines. “Previously, we had 20MW of wind in mind in the St. George Valley,” says Mr. Goddard. “That’s the area where we have existing pumping units. Since then, we have identified two other areas, in the north and

east of the island, where we may be able to do significantly more wind – possibly even up to 50MW.” To begin with, BNOCL are conducting geotechnical and logistical studies, as well as modelling. “We have some data on wind from an area not too far from there, and we have confidence that the wind conditions in that area, based on the topography and the trees, will be economic,” says Mr. Goddard. “It will be geotechnical and logistical issues which will probably be the determining factor. Barbados is a limestone island, and we need to understand the ground condi-

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BARBADOS NATIONAL OIL COMPANY LIMITED CONTAINERS OF E10, BIODIESEL, AND DIESEL (FOR B20) FOR THE ALTERNATIVE FUELS PILOT PROJECT.

WE ANTICIPATE THAT, IN THE FUTURE OF BARBADOS, WE WILL BE THE NUMBER TWO GENERATOR OF RENEWABLE ENERGY, AFTER THE NATIONAL UTILITY.

tions. We also need to consider the size of the turbines, and the logistics for getting them to any particular location, as well as installing them. The geotechnical study will probably start in August, and we’ll study the logistics and begin taking wind data around December. So it’ll be November or December 2019 before we can start on the implementation.” GAS IS GREENER A major new development for BNOCL is in biogas. “We have a large number of restau-

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rants and hotels which do not necessarily have any defined use for their waste food products,” explains Mr. Goddard. “We also have places that cut lawns and trim trees, and sugarcane producers and chicken factories. All these things produce organic waste, which is normally taken to the landfill. We think there are opportunities for us to better use this resource. Using our natural gas infrastructure, we can generate biomethane and inject that into our natural gas network. At present, we have two streams of natural gas, which are our wells and imported LNG.

This third path would be through generation of indigenous biomethane.” BNOCL have developed an Expression of Interest, and have now put out a request for proposals. “By the middle of August, we expect to have proposals from potential bidders,” says Mr. Goddard. “Then we anticipate early next year we’ll be on our way to establishing a biomethane plant. It’ll be a modular solution, which will put us in a position to increase the number of digesters while maintaining the quality of the product and looking for additional resources. We’re

GENERAL MANAGER WINTON GIBBS (LEFT) AND RENEWABLE ENERGY OFFICER RICHARD GODDARD (RIGHT) DISCUSSING THE CONSTRUCTION OF THE ALTERNATIVE FUELS PILOT STATION.

RENEWABLE ENERGY OFFICER RICHARD GODDARD (RIGHT) EXPLAINING HOW THE FUEL DISPENSER WILL WORK.

also keeping in mind the potential for generating gas from seaweed. There is a significant amount that comes onto the beaches, and some people call it a nuisance. We’ve asked our bidders to look into a low-cost method of taking that seaweed and using it as a resource for biogas generation. This would help keep our beaches clean, reducing smells and flies. Also, it hopefully will lead to the development of some cottage industries around the collection, distribution, and delivery of this seaweed. Out the other side

of the process, we get fertilizer, which then goes back to farmers. We’re very excited about this overall project. We think will make a significant impact on the future of the company and the use of waste on the island. It’s a virtuous cycle.” “Overall, we’re looking in as many avenues as possible at developing renewable energy,” says Mr. Goddard. “We’re looking closely at energy storage. When the utility established their 10MW solar PV farm, they found any disturbances could

cause high-frequency fluctuations, which interfered with the grid. To manage that, they employed an energy storage solution, and based on their experience, we’re investigating energy storage for our PV and wind installations. We anticipate that, in the future of Barbados, we will be the number two generator of renewable energy, after the national utility. We intend to be a well-positioned, highly-functional, efficient energy company, providing a sustainable energy future for all Barbadians.” c

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ECOPOD

Written by Alexandra Haas, MPH of Design Behavior Consulting.

Refill Technology Offers New Hope in Creating a Sustainable Future While on a beach clean-up in New York City, Gabriella Pino was struck by the seemingly endless debris that littered the coastline. It was there, amidst the trash, that the idea for Ecopod was born. Her father, Henry Pino, was no stranger to innovation. In 1993, while working for a chemical company, he noticed that their clients had stockpiles of empty chemical drums. Recognizing the waste of this approach, he founded a company to refill the drums with a fleet of tanker trucks. He knew this idea could be applied to consumer 34 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

products as well, so in 2016, Henry and Gabriella patented Ecopod, a smart-tech refill kiosk that dispenses cleaning and personal care products into refillable containers. Dedicated to preserving our oceans, the father-daughter team has been working ever since to help make refill the new norm. The potential impact of switching to refill is astounding. The average American family buys an average of 100 bottles of cleaning and personal care products each year, amounting to billions of bottles that

HENRY PINO.

GABRIELLA PINO.

Ecopod refill technology eliminates this abundance of plastic waste generated from single-use plastic containers by making refill easy, convenient, and cost-effective.

end up polluting our environment. Ecopod refill technology eliminates this abundance of plastic waste generated from single-use plastic containers by making refill easy, convenient, and cost-effective. Henry Pino, who by day works as a developer in Miami, knew that for the innovation to be widely adopted, it had to be easy for consumers to use and of value to the customer. By eliminating the need to manufacture new plastic, savings get passed on to the consumer with products costing less than if purchased through traditional retailers. Ecopod thereby makes the sustainable choice the easy choice. Units are currently being placed in residential complexes in South Florida. As a developer, Henry has placed Ecopod in his housing units, and continues to offer Ecopod for free to apartment complexes, laundromats, and dorms in the cities surrounding Miami. By offering a percentage of the profits to the property owners, he incentivizes them to participate in this sustainable initiative. To make the switch even easier, all residents are given starter packs of the biodegradable cleaning products, which they can simply refill when empty. The Mayor of Miami has advocated for Ecopod placement in low-income housing units, recognizing the benefits for not only the environment but for the consumer as well. Working to get the large manufacturers of cleaning products to use the patent license, however, has proven to be more difficult. While some large corpora-

tions have shown interest in leasing the patent, they are proving to be resistant to change. With China no longer accepting recyclables from the United States, and evidence of the harm caused by ocean plastic mounting, the need to reduce single-use plastics is more pressing than ever. Momentum against single-use plastic is building worldwide, as plastic bag and plastic straw bans sweep the globe. Ecopod has been flooded with consumer demand, with many eager to see the technology introduced where they live. As consumers search for ways to reduce their dependence on single-use plastics, Ecopod is quickly becoming a favourite solution among activists and the everyday consumer alike. With projections estimating that ocean plastic will outnumber fish by 2050, the need for our global economy to make the shift towards a sustainable future is growing. As awareness of the refill technology builds, Ecopod is poised to become a major player on the world stage, with or without uptake by large cleaning products manufacturers. With a mission to protect our oceans, the Ecopod founders hope the technology is embraced by the industry sooner rather than later. They are planning their own expansion nationally and internationally and hope to see the technology become accessible to all, regardless of whether major manufacturers commit to making the switch. c SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

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GLOBAL EVENTS

SEPT

2018

11th - 13th

Critical Power Expo 2018 Novi, MI, USA www.criticalpowerexpo.com

Critical Power Expo is an exhibition and conference for global critical power infrastructure. This unique show attracts engineers, architects, decision makers, buyers, and specifiers of power solutions for critical infrastructure and facilities.

19th - 20th

Energy Storage Canada Toronto, ON, Canada www.energystoragecanada.org

This is the largest conference in Canada solely focused on energy storage. This annual conference brings together the latest in energy storage across Canada. Find out what’s driving the market today and connect with leaders in the industry.

23th - 27th

2018 Renewable Energy and Smart Grid (ICT) Conference Miami, FL, USA www.carilec.org

The Conference will feature interactive-style workshops, networking opportunities, peer-to-peer learning, and practical demonstrations of renewable energy best practice, resiliency planning, CARILEC Renewable Energy Community, and disaster management.

24th - 25th

Offshore Wind Executive Summit Houston, TX, USA

The Offshore Wind Executive Summit: The Parallels of Wind, Oil and Gas will provide the forum to establish new business relationships and education on the current market including project development, important policy issues, and the complicated supply chain.

CSE: Certified Sustainability (CSR) Practitioner Program Houston, TX, USA www.cse-net.org

This two-day training offered by CSE aims to give you all the latest practical tools and resources required to implement or upscale corporate sustainability in order to drive your forward initiatives.

www.offshorewindsummit.com

27th - 28th

1st - 3rd

WEFTEC 2018 New Orleans, LA, USA www.weftec.org

The Water Environment Federation is a not-for-profit association that provides technical education and training for thousands of water quality professionals who clean water and return it safely to the environment.

16th - 18th

SFI Annual Conference 2018 Westminster, CO, USA www.sfiprogram.org

This conference will engage you in discussions focused on why Forests are the Answer to so many of the most important sustainability challenges we face in the sector and in our communities.

16th - 17th

AWEA Offshore WIND POWER Conference Washington DC, USA www.awea.org/events

The AWEA Offshore WINDPOWER Conference program has cultivated a dedicated and thriving global community of top developers and experts, making it the largest and most successful gathering of offshore wind energy professionals in the United States.

23rd - 25th

CanWEA Annual Conference 2018 Calgary, AB, Canada

A rare opportunity to meet industry experts in Canada’s largest wind energy conference. 2018 is shaping up to be the year that wind energy becomes Canada’s leading choice for new electricity generation.

Waste & Recycling Expo Canada Toronto, ON, Canada

Waste & Recycling Expo attracts more than 3,000 attendees and nearly 300 exhibiting companies for Canada’s only trade fair serving the waste, recycling and public works markets.

www.offshorewindsummit.com

24th - 25th

36 | SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

OCT 2018

ADVERTISERS INDEX A AFAB Roofing Ltd.

P25

F FID Chemicals Inc.

P06

B Berger Paints Barbados Ltd.

P31

R R.B.P. Lifts Limited

P25

C Carbon Zero Initiative of Trinidad and Tobago (CZITT) Inside Front Central Customs Agency Ltd. P30 Chemsynergy Inc. P10 D D.Hill Shipping Services Ltd. E Enmasco Ltd. Energy Expo

P31

P27 Back Cover

S Sagicor Life Inc. SDRR Hydraulics Industrial Spares Inc. T TATEC Ltd. The Water Source Ltd. Trinity Rail Group, LLC. Tradewind Tankers W Water Expo 2018

P19 P32

P25 P25 P09 P33

Back Cover

SUSTAINABLE BUSINESS MAGAZINE

| 37

MARK YOUR CALENDAR

in MIAMI, The Americaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Business Capital. Where manufacturers & distributors CONNECT BIG with Latin American, Caribbean & United States HUGE MARKETS 40 countries under one roof!

7th Edition

Aug. 29 & 30, 2018 MACC Convention Center Awarded as one of the fastest growing shows in 2017!

www.TheWaterExpo.com | (305) 412-EXPO (3976) Empowering WATER & SANITATION for ALL of The Americas!

Energizing ALL the Americas! In warm MIAMI! SOLAR ENERGY STORAGE ENERGY SAVING ENERGY SERVICING ENERGY MANAGEMENT SMART BUILDINGS CLEAN TRANSPORTATION

TEE2019.com

Jan. 23 & 24, 2019 MACC Convention Center

(305) 412-0000 | mail@TEE2019.com