Agenda

Across numerous panel discussions, workshops, industry awards, and networking events we’ll provide our delegates with the tools, contacts and market intel they need to light a fire under the regional energy transition.

Day 1 | April 26th

What to expect from the pre-day at CREF 2022? Two deep-dive workshops, one on green hydrogen, the other on e-mobility, followed by the outcome-driven Island Resilience Action Challenge.

Then: the CREF kick-off reception to launch the main festivities.

Day 2 | April 27th

Join stakeholders from across the region for interactive panels, exclusive interviews, and numerous networking events. The agenda is rich, immersive, and features leaders from across the industry spectrum. Expect ample opportunities to form new connections, solidify existing relationships, and debate opportunities, all in a lively and productive environment. Then: the second of our two networking receptions.

Day 3 | April 28th

Join us for another day of ‘front of the industry’ discussions and deep-dive roundtables. We take a closer look at some countries and themes dominating the conversation, and ascertain next steps needed to drive forward the energy transition across the region.

Interested in speaking at CREF 2022? Apply here.

Tuesday

April 26

8:30-10:00

Registration

10:00-11:00

Coffee & Networking

11:00-12:30

The EV Deployment Workshop: Driving EVs over the Finish Line

EV and EV infrastructure dominated much of the conversation at CREF Virtual, with several leading officials describing EVs as a pillar of energy transition strategy. This workshop details EV ambitions and progress around the region, and highlights the obstacles that remain to making electrification a reality. Workshop participants identify the ways that investors, manufacturers, government entities can move forward EV implementation. Technical experts draw from relevant experiences and studies, and explore how technologies can transform the Caribbean EV landscape.

Exploring the critical role of the regulator and utility engagement

Role and opportunities for private sector investment and vehicle manufacturers

Next steps to scale up and achieve rapid deployment

2:30-5:00

Island Resilience Action Challenge (IRAC)

New Energy Events and Advanced Energy Group launched IRAC to build consensus around hurdles to grid resiliency in the Caribbean, and to identify real-world, actionable solutions. And then to act on them. Annually, island policy-makers, utilities, regulators, financiers, developers and manufacturers now gather at IRAC to:

Collaboratively identify the most critical regional resilience challenges

Identify a solution and move on immediate action to accomplish within 12 months

Leverage the Action Challenge into a collaborative, accountable, 12 month Task Force

Ultimately: Effect Change

CREF 2022 will again be the home to this unique, hands-on workshop to continue this critical work. Island stakeholders will collaboratively triage the most pressing challenges facing the region, brainstorm and pitch solutions, and work to find consensus on an immediate action plan for one breakthrough resolution.

5:00-7:00

CREF 2022 Welcome Reception

Wednesday

April 27

6:30

CREF Morning Activity

Fun Run
Yoga
Bike Tour

8:00-8:50

Registration and Coffee

8:50-9:00

CREF Welcome

9:00-9:20

Delivering on COP26 for the Caribbean

Keynote Interview

9:20-10:00

The CREF Caribbean Status Briefing: Policies, Trends, Transactions & Pipeline

Our experts provide a dynamic ‘tour’ of the Caribbean to assess what trends are driving the market, gauge progress over the course of the past 24 months, and analyze the deal and policy pipeline .

10:00-11:00

Policy-Makers Panel: Time for Action

On decarbonization and the clean energy transition, it’s time for action. Gathering regional leaders, we’ll seek a candid assessment of progress-to-date, and detailed guidance on policy roadmaps to effect change.

In what tangible ways are island governments demonstrating their commitment to the energy transition?
How successfully are governments reducing barriers to clean energy development and implementation e.g. streamlining regulation and attracting investment?
How do regional leaders perceive the potential to harness climate finance solutions?
How are island governments supporting energy efficiency initiatives and innovations in clean fuels, e-mobility, and other innovative technologies?
What do governments need from industry and regional stakeholders to bring these ambitions to fruition?

11:00-11:30

Networking Break

11:30-12:15

Stimulating Project Viability & Deal Flow

Capital is available in abundance to deploy for bankable projects in the Caribbean. How can financiers, multilaterals and project developers enhance the bankability of projects with creative approaches to deal structures?

How can commercial and multilateral lenders drive increased deal flow and project viability with reimagined approaches to financing?
How can we tap the full potential of concessional, incubation capital and private philanthropic capital for renewable projects in the region?
How can we streamline the engagement of the regulators to ensure project bankability?
How can liquidity be brought to the Caribbean renewable sector in a manner, and timeframe, that supports viability of smaller projects?

12:15-1:00

Portrait of a Modern Utility: Strategies for Greener, More Resilient, and Competitive Utilities

Energy priorities are shifting against a background of climate and economic pressures. Utilities sit at the center of this dynamic.

How are utilities working to meet green and clean expectations, while also improving performance and maintaining fair rates for consumers?
What is the best way to engage new technologies and develop in line with trends in DG, storage and EVs?
Developing a utility workforce that is green-smart and resilient-savvy
What support is available to help utilities develop the best approach and assess performance?

1:00-2:30

Lunch & CREF Awards

2:30-2:45

The C&I Session: Are Caribbean Industrials Prioritizing Renewables?

Local industries will play a key role in achieving energy transition goals. We speak to some of the most active industrial associations about the clean energy ambitions of their members, and how these goals can be met.

Is regulation supporting or slowing C&I? Where can we point to regulatory success stories?
The economics of renewables for island industries
Exploring C&I project case studies and success stories

2:45-3:15

Live Polling at CREF 2022

The CREF community, led by regional experts, responds live to questions about the state of the industry and expectations.

3:15-4:15

High Impact Routes to Decarbonization and Resilience

Clean energy is only one piece of the puzzle in the effort to decarbonize economies and increase resilience. This interactive session pushes regional stakeholders to look beyond current solutions and brainstorm creative approaches to decarbonizing the Caribbean ecosystem, while simultaneously increasing competitiveness across sectors. Our experts consider what makes for effective policy, and also discuss the opportunities to develop circular economies and create meaningful linkages between sectors. We explore the opportunities presented by technological innovations, including the expanding potential of green hydrogen.

Presentation/industry survey on the broader opportunities for decarbonization and resilience building

Then: a live polling exercise and an interactive audience comment and Q&A will identify opportunities for cooperation and decarbonization advancement across the region.

4:15-4:45

Networking Break

4:45-6:15

Barbados

Country Focus

Deep dive sessions and question time highlighting achievements, developments, policy advances and investment opportunities across the region.

US Virgin Islands

Country Focus

Deep dive sessions and question time highlighting achievements, developments, policy advances and investment opportunities across the region.

4:45-6:15

Cayman Islands

Country Focus

Deep dive sessions and question time highlighting achievements, developments, policy advances and investment opportunities across the region.

Dominican Republic

Country Focus

Deep dive sessions and question time highlighting achievements, developments, policy advances and investment opportunities across the region.

6:15-8:00

Networking Reception

Thursday

April 28

6:30

CREF Morning Activity

Yoga
Bike Tour

8:30-9:20

Women in Energy Breakfast / Morning Refreshments

Significant progress has been made towards increased inclusion of women in the Caribbean energy space, but there is more to be done. How can regional governments, utilities, developers and financiers take concrete steps towards correcting the gender inequality that remains? How are the women leading the Caribbean energy transition inspiring change in industry mindset and practice? What are the next steps towards completely closing the gender gap in the Caribbean energy space?

9:20-9:30

CREF Day 3 Welcome

9:30-10:00

Climate Finance to Reinforce Caribbean Economies

Keynote Interview

10:00-10:45

Can we Build a New Hydrogen Economy Across the Caribbean?

A panel of regional leaders will discuss realistic opportunities for hydrogen across the region, and how we can maximize the impact on energy transition, local economies and societies.

What are the economics?
Is regional integration the path to greening the region with new hydrogen?
How can we bring down the barriers to green hydrogen production and use around the region?
What does integration and the value chain look like now, and in the future? What are the potential impacts on local energy matrices and local economies?
How can the various stakeholders participate in the advancement of new hydrogen expansion?

10:45-11:15

Networking Break

11:15-12:00

Jamaica

Country Focus

Deep dive sessions and question time highlighting achievements, developments, policy advances and investment opportunities across the region.

Bermuda

Country Focus

Deep dive sessions and question time highlighting achievements, developments, policy advances and investment opportunities across the region.

12:00-1:30

Can ESG mandates Drive Investment in Clean Energy?

Deep-Dive Interactive Sessions

As ESG becomes an essential feature of financing for corporate and sovereign borrowers, we project the impact of ESG mandates on the clean energy sector.

– How does the Caribbean compare with other investment destinations from an ESG investor perspective?

-Who is driving the growth of ESG-linked lending in the region?

-How can governments and regulators best stimulate ESG initiatives and how do they align with national development goals?

-What programs are underway and having an impact on Caribbean clean energy investment and how can ESG linked financing be expanded?

– Best practice for Caribbean ESG lending free of greenwashing

Scaling Storage and DG Solutions

Deep-Dive Interactive Sessions

In smaller groups, these sessions are intended to dive deeper into the issues and provide the audience with an opportunity to ask specific questions, understand new strategies/opportunities/technologies, and share experiences.

As islands seek greener and more resilient energy solutions, how can storage and DG solutions become more accessible and bankable?

- Are micro-grids the most practical solution to deliver on clean energy and resilience goals?
- Are the resilience and economic benefits clear?
- Can pre-investment prevent bottlenecks in storage and DG initiatives and how can this be planned for/financed?
- What solutions are available to increase project viability and overcome challenges to implementation?

12:45-1:30

Up-skilling the Workforce for the Green Economy: Solutions for Capacity Building Across the Region

Deep-Dive Interactive Sessions

Economic sustainability and job creation go hand-in-hand with the energy transition, but what are the skills required for the long-term energy transition and can they be delivered to the local workforce?

– Projecting trends in Caribbean labor markets and potential impact on regional economies

– What skills are transferable? What technical training will be required long-term?

– How best can education programs assure a sustainable and competitive clean energy job market long term?

– How does the Caribbean stack up in terms of workforce training compared to other regions?

– What does this mean in terms of attractiveness for developers and investors?

Tackling the Issue (and cost) of Insurance in the Face of Increasing Weather Events

Deep-Dive Interactive Sessions

In smaller groups, these sessions are intended to dive deeper into the issues and provide the audience with an opportunity to ask specific questions, understand new strategies/opportunities/technologies, and share experiences.

As climate change creates more powerful and frequent extreme weather events, access to cost-effective insurance is becoming harder to come by. How can developers respond?
- What conclusions can be drawn from claims across the region in recent years?
- How, as an industry, can we address the insurance challenge in order to support the flow of bankable projects?

- How do insurers assess insurance risk and what options can they offer to reduce the cost burden on developers?

- Is increasing resiliency in project design enough?

- What other risks must Caribbean developers factor in and how can these impact their premiums?

1:30-2:30

Agenda

Day 1 | April 26th

Day 2 | April 27th

Day 3 | April 28th

Registration

Coffee & Networking

The EV Deployment Workshop: Driving EVs over the Finish Line

Island Resilience Action Challenge (IRAC)

CREF 2022 Welcome Reception

CREF Morning Activity

Registration and Coffee

CREF Welcome

Delivering on COP26 for the Caribbean

Keynote Interview

The CREF Caribbean Status Briefing: Policies, Trends, Transactions & Pipeline

Policy-Makers Panel: Time for Action

Networking Break

Stimulating Project Viability & Deal Flow

Portrait of a Modern Utility: Strategies for Greener, More Resilient, and Competitive Utilities

Lunch & CREF Awards

The C&I Session: Are Caribbean Industrials Prioritizing Renewables?

Live Polling at CREF 2022

High Impact Routes to Decarbonization and Resilience

Networking Break

Barbados

Country Focus

US Virgin Islands

Country Focus

Cayman Islands

Country Focus

Dominican Republic

Country Focus

Networking Reception

CREF Morning Activity

Women in Energy Breakfast / Morning Refreshments

CREF Day 3 Welcome

Climate Finance to Reinforce Caribbean Economies

Keynote Interview

Can we Build a New Hydrogen Economy Across the Caribbean?

Networking Break

Jamaica

Country Focus

Bermuda

Country Focus

Can ESG mandates Drive Investment in Clean Energy?

Deep-Dive Interactive Sessions

Scaling Storage and DG Solutions

Deep-Dive Interactive Sessions

Up-skilling the Workforce for the Green Economy: Solutions for Capacity Building Across the Region

Deep-Dive Interactive Sessions

Tackling the Issue (and cost) of Insurance in the Face of Increasing Weather Events

Deep-Dive Interactive Sessions

Networking Lunch & CREF 2022 Close