Caribbean: Green Climate Fund approves USD 80 million to develop 60 MW geothermal energy in eastern Caribbean

October 10, 2016

Geothermal energy presents a growing opportunity for the Eastern Caribbean to reduce its dependence on fossil fuel imports. Decreases in world oil prices have not been reflected in regional electricity prices in the Caribbean, which remain high at US$0.39 per kWh (2013 price). The Green Climate Fund (GCF) has thus approved US$745 million as part […]

Dr. Vince Henderson Is Dominica’s new ambassador to U.S. and OAS

October 7, 2016

The new Ambassador to the U.S and the Permanent Representative to the Organization of American States (OAS), Dr. Vince Henderson plans to address key areas of energy and climate change in the Caribbean. At an appointment ceremony on October 1st, Secretary General of OAS, Luis Almagro, highlighted the work of Dr. Henderson in the areas […]

USAID Caribbean Clean Energy Program And CHTA Forge Collaborative Partnership To Bolster Energy Efficiency In The Caribbean Hotel Sector

October 7, 2016

New tools to measure energy efficiency are coming to the Caribbean via a partnership between USAID Caribbean Clean Energy Program (CARCEP) and the Caribbean Hotel and Tourism Association (CHTA). An agreement signed at the Caribbean Hospitality Industry Exchange Forum (CHIEF) will be used to take action on energy efficiency policy, research and development, and training […]

Mexico selects 23 bidders for $4 billion renewable energy projects auction

October 5, 2016

Mexico has selected 23 bidders for contracts to build 36 new clean energy power plants including wind and solar capacity. The US $4 billion project will support PV solar, wind and other clean energy projects, awarding 8,909 GWh of capacity to the selected firms. Mexico’s National Energy Control Center (CENACE) has stated that the total […]

Suriname to invest US$1.287 billion in energy and infrastructure

October 4, 2016

While still in recovery from a deep balance of payment crisis in 2015, Suriname will now receive a US$1.8 billion soft loan from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) and invest $1.287 billion to finance a series of more than 40 projects in energy and infrastructure. As part of the “Framework for the Stabilization and Restoration […]

Winds of change slow to reach Caribbean’s renewable energy landscape

October 4, 2016

A paper published in the current issue of the journal Energy Policy examines the causes behind the slow pace of renewable energy development in the Caribbean. Harrie Vredenburg and colleagues surveyed 36 political jurisdictions in the Caribbean to assess factors that promote and restrict initiatives for greener energy generation. One outcome explained that incumbent electric […]

Nicaragua Textile Manufacturers Suffer From Expensive Energy

October 3, 2016

Textile sector growth in Nicaragua is limited by the cost of high electricity, according to the Nicaraguan Association of the Textile and Apparel Industry (Anitec). Excessively high rates discourage foreign investors who could enable the entry of textile companies and spinning mills into the country’s market. Electricity rates are currently so limiting that it makes […]

Caribbean islands receive training on climate-friendly cooling

October 3, 2016

Workshops hosted by the CARICOM Secretariat, in collaboration with  Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), are making an effort to reduce the amount of energy used in the Caribbean cooling sector. Dual training programs attracted over 50 policymakers and financial and private sector representatives from 15 Caribbean islands for sessions that ranged from policy (Nationally […]

Energy to create wealth: In Barbados, chances to earn from greener sources growing

October 3, 2016

Barbadians will now have the opportunity to become small power providers to the national grid. A July 13th decision by the Fair Trading Commission (FTC) to review the Renewable Energy Rider (RER) has facilitated wealth creation at the lowest-income level. Shifts in rate structure and the amount of energy that individuals and companies could invest […]