PANAMA CITY, October 15, 2026 – Winners of the seventh annual CREF Industry Awards were announced during a ceremony at the 18th Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF), hosted by New Energy Events at the Hilton Panama.
The Awards celebrate the people, projects and partnerships accelerating the Caribbean’s clean energy transition. This year’s winners span a diverse range of achievements, from expanding renewable energy access in remote communities to advancing major infrastructure projects and unlocking the financing needed to bring them to fruition.
The 2026 CREF Industry Award winners:
- 2025–2026 Energy Leadership MVP: Dr. the Hon. Vince Henderson
Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Business, Trade and Energy, Commonwealth of Dominica - Best Clean Energy Program: Guyana Utility-Scale Solar Photovoltaic Program (GUYSOL)
Guyana Power and Light (GPL) | Norad | Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) - Most Innovative Project: Solar PV Cruise Boat
Odyssey Cruises Grenada - Community Impact Award: Suriname Rural Electrification Project – Galibi and Kajana Microgrids
CARICOM | Government of Suriname - Best Caribbean Energy Project: Dominica Geothermal Energy 10 MW Project
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) | CARICOM | Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica | Geothermal Power Company of Dominica (2023) Ltd. - Best Financing Program: Dominica Geothermal Energy 10 MW Project
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) | CARICOM | Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica | Geothermal Power Company of Dominica (2023) Ltd.
“Dominica’s geothermal project is a landmark achievement, not just for the country, but for the wider Caribbean,” said Ian Welch-Phillips of Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), a member of the CREF Awards Advisory Committee. “After many years of collaboration, innovation, and perseverance, the project is delivering reliable renewable baseload power, reducing customer energy costs, and strengthening Dominica’s energy security – paving the way for other islands across the region to follow.”
Racquel Moses of the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA), also a member of the Advisory Committee, highlighted the broader significance of this year’s recipients: “What stands out about this year’s winners is the real impact of their work. These are projects and initiatives that are addressing the Caribbean’s energy challenges and making a meaningful difference in communities across the region. Choosing our winners is never easy, and this year was no different. We congratulate everyone who was nominated and thank them for the important work they continue to do.”
Awards Advisory Committee
The winners were selected by a panel of regional energy and finance leaders:
- Charlin Bodley, Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)
- Gillian Charles-Gollop, Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
- Racquel Moses, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA)
- Dr. Mohammad Rafik Nagdee, Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)
- Kemar Polius, CIBC Caribbean
- Ian Welch-Phillips, Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
The awards were presented on October 15, alongside three days of high-level discussions at CREF 2026. Hosted in Panama City for the first time, the Forum brought together government ministers, utility leaders, regulators, developers, financiers and multilateral institutions to tackle some of the region’s most pressing energy challenges, from project bankability and utility reform to grid modernization, energy storage and geothermal development.
For more information, visit newenergyevents.com/cref.
About New Energy Events
New Energy Events produces senior-level conferences and market intelligence for the energy and infrastructure markets across Latin America and the Caribbean. We have worked in the region since 2009, bringing together governments, developers, investors, financiers and multilaterals to turn policy and capital into projects. Our portfolio includes CREF, the Caribbean Infrastructure Forum (CARIF), the Geothermal Congress for Latin America and the Caribbean (GEOLAC) and the Hydrogen Congress for Latin America and the Caribbean (H2LAC).
Media Contact
Emma Bassett
New Energy Events
+1 845 527-3560
ebassett@newenergyevents.com
