CARICOM Energy Unit head Dr Devon Gardner. Photo courtesy CARICOM. Energy

 

Head of the CARICOM Energy Unit Dr Devon Gardner reported renewable energy penetration in CARICOM has more than doubled in the past decade and the plan is to quadruple it in the next two decades.

 

He was one of the panellists Monday on the virtual launch of CARICOM Energy Month under the theme “A Re-silient Community: Energy at the Centre.”

 

He reported in 2010 the aggregate penetration of renewable energy in CARICOM was six per cent and this has risen to 12.3 per cent in 2020. He said CARICOM has made the “ambitious” goal of 48 per cent penetration by 2030 which would be a quadrupling of the current figure.

 

He explained the characteristics of energy systems were becoming more complex and the conversations ten years ago about clean energy, reliability and affordability has evolved to include flexibility, security, especially with oil-dependent systems and the volatility of that sector, and resilience as well.

 

Later during a media conference, Gardner explained the unit has been working with member states on building out their roadmap for their visions of renewable energy and energy efficiency. He reported the majority of countries have national energy policies that are renewable-friendly and Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana were two countries that were still in the draft phase.

 

Asked about the countries with the highest levels of renewable energy penetration he replied there were several factors to consider. He said Barbados and Jamaica were strongest in the electrical sector both in terms of regulation and governance. In terms of infrastructure, he said: Belize had the highest penetration at up to 70 per cent, largely hydropower with Mexico as back-up; Jamaica had the highest megawatts of renewable energy in the region at 160 Mega Watt peak and increasing, and also had significant expertise in wind power via the Wigton Wind Farm; and Barbados was doing quite well in terms of solar. 

 

On Trinidad and Tobago, he said it was not so bad on the governance side but it was not largely driven by a market arrangement but by the public sector. He added that the country has not significantly invested in renewable energy infrastructure. 

 

 

Source:  https://www.loopnewscaribbean.com/content/plan-quadruple-caricom-renewable-energy-20-years-3

 

CARICOM Energy Unit head Dr Devon Gardner. Photo courtesy CARICOM. Energy

 

Head of the CARICOM Energy Unit Dr Devon Gardner reported renewable energy penetration in CARICOM has more than doubled in the past decade and the plan is to quadruple it in the next two decades.

 

He was one of the panellists Monday on the virtual launch of CARICOM Energy Month under the theme “A Re-silient Community: Energy at the Centre.”

 

He reported in 2010 the aggregate penetration of renewable energy in CARICOM was six per cent and this has risen to 12.3 per cent in 2020. He said CARICOM has made the “ambitious” goal of 48 per cent penetration by 2030 which would be a quadrupling of the current figure.

 

He explained the characteristics of energy systems were becoming more complex and the conversations ten years ago about clean energy, reliability and affordability has evolved to include flexibility, security, especially with oil-dependent systems and the volatility of that sector, and resilience as well.

 

Later during a media conference, Gardner explained the unit has been working with member states on building out their roadmap for their visions of renewable energy and energy efficiency. He reported the majority of countries have national energy policies that are renewable-friendly and Trinidad and Tobago and Guyana were two countries that were still in the draft phase.

 

Asked about the countries with the highest levels of renewable energy penetration he replied there were several factors to consider. He said Barbados and Jamaica were strongest in the electrical sector both in terms of regulation and governance. In terms of infrastructure, he said: Belize had the highest penetration at up to 70 per cent, largely hydropower with Mexico as back-up; Jamaica had the highest megawatts of renewable energy in the region at 160 Mega Watt peak and increasing, and also had significant expertise in wind power via the Wigton Wind Farm; and Barbados was doing quite well in terms of solar. 

 

On Trinidad and Tobago, he said it was not so bad on the governance side but it was not largely driven by a market arrangement but by the public sector. He added that the country has not significantly invested in renewable energy infrastructure. 

 

 

Source:  https://www.loopnewscaribbean.com/content/plan-quadruple-caricom-renewable-energy-20-years-3