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 This conference was held from May 7 - 9, 2025

Agenda

Underpinned by the CREF Advisory Board, what’s driving the CREF 2025 agenda?

  • Achieving energy independence in a time of geopolitical uncertainty
  • Future-focused utilities: renewables capacity, battery storage and CAPEX strategy
  • Attracting and effectively deploying impact investment and alternative finance solutions
  • Advancing energy interconnection: addressing regulatory, operational, and financial barriers
  • Regulation and policy to drive renewable energy development
  • National energy strategies, the project pipeline and upcoming tenders

As well as:

  • The annual Hydrogen Summit for the Caribbean (H2-Caribbean 2025) returns for its 3rd iteration. A standalone event on May 7 spearheading the region’s drive for a clean hydrogen economy.
  • The annual Women in Renewable Energy Luncheon, hosted by the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator and RMI.
  • The Environmental Trading Breakfast Workshop. Get to grips with the latest trends in environmental trading and how to apply them in the Caribbean. Hosted by CIBC Caribbean.
  • “Deep Dive” Workshop: Is Geothermal Power Finally Within Reach? Hosted by Exergy International.

And then there are any number of other CREF highlights – the Rise-and-Shine Roundtables, the CREF Fun Run, the CREF Connection Hub, the CREF Awards – each a highlight in its own right.

Wednesday

May 7
9:00-12:00

Unlocking the Caribbean’s Renewable Energy Potential: Strategic Pathways for Investment and Scale

Hosted by The World Bank

The World Bank is hosting an interactive workshop focused on innovative solutions to overcome the critical barriers impeding the advancement of the clean energy transition in the Caribbean. The workshop will explore three leading solutions through relevant case studies and invite insights and ideas from all participants. The ultimate objective is to develop concrete approaches to apply these solutions more effectively and accelerate the clean energy transition in the region. More information and agenda here. 

  • David Bot Ba Njock

    IFC
    Investment Officer

  • Gillian Charles-Gollop

    CIBC Caribbean
    Executive Director, Corporate Banking & Sustainable Finance

  • Rutu Dave

    The World Bank
    Senior Energy Specialist

  • Gabriela Elizondo-Azuela

    The World Bank
    Practice Manager Energy Infrastructure, Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Judith Ephraim

    Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission
    Programme Coordinator, Sustainable Energy Unit

  • Kiesha Farnum

    Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)
    Head of Partnerships and Programmes

  • Kurt Inglis

    Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Transports, Saint Lucia
    Head of Energy & Public Utilities

  • Hon. Kerryne James

    Government of Grenada
    Minister of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy

  • Talal Kanaan

    The World Bank
    Energy Specialist

  • Hon. Konris Maynard

    Government of St. Kitts and Nevis
    Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication and Technology and Posts

  • Peter Mockel

    IFC
    Principal Industry Specialist

  • Neha Mukhi

    The World Bank
    Senior Energy Specialist

  • Dr. Mohammad Rafik Nagdee

    CCREEE
    Executive Director

  • Kieran St Omer

    Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB)
    Caribbean Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure Financing Facility Lead 

  • Chong Suk Song

    The World Bank
    Energy Specialist

  • Ambrose Tillett

    Public Utilities Commission (PUC) of Belize
    Director

  • Jari Vayrynen

    The World Bank
    Senior Energy Specialist

Invitation Only
12:15-1:45

Women In Renewable Energy Luncheon

hosted by WIRE/RMI & Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator

Invitation only. More information here.

  • Kelly Tomblin

    El Paso Electric Company
    President and Chief Executive Officer

Additional Enrollment Required
2:00-6:00

3rd Hydrogen Summit for the Caribbean

The 3rd annual Hydrogen Summit for the Caribbean (H2-Caribbean 2025) is designed to bring the upstream and downstream market together to chart a pathway for Caribbean hydrogen development.

Advanced sign-up required. More information here.

6:00-8:00

CREF Welcoming Cocktail Reception

Kick off the 17th edition of CREF in style! Celebrate the reunion of the #CREFenergy community with an evening of cocktails, hors d’oeuvres, and networking.

Open to all registered attendees.

Thursday

May 8
7:15-8:30

Exhibition and Registration Opens

Advanced registration required
7:30-8:30

Environmental Trading Breakfast Workshop

Hosted by CIBC Caribbean

Get to grips with the latest trends in environmental trading and how to apply them in the Caribbean.  Find out more on:

  • Carbon markets 101 and different carbon credits and trading schemes
  • How voluntary carbon markets work and its contribution to supporting climate goals
  • How are credits generated and what are the verification and compliance requirements?
  • Looking at market dynamics,  pricing mechanisms and risk management approaches

 

  • Amber Kirby

    CIBC Capital Markets
    Executive Director, Corporate Solutions Group

8:40-8:45

CREF 2025 Welcome Remarks

  • Jerry Butler

    Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum
    Chairman

8:45-8:50

Day One Chair Welcome

  • Racquel Moses

    Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator
    Chief Executive Officer

8:50-9:05

Opening Keynote

  • Daniel Best

    Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
    President

9:05-10:15

CREF Ministerial: Diverse Pathways to Energy Transition in the Caribbean

Guided by the principle that one size doesn’t fit all, this high-level session explores how a select group of island nations are charting their energy transition paths, from utility-scale renewables to decentralized solutions.

  • What are the building blocks of the transition? What is the vision?
  • How has the operating environment (e.g. geopolitical landscape, growing interest in LNG,  price of oil) impacted the plan?
  • What milestones have been achieved in the last year?
  • What major milestones need to be achieved in the next 18 months (i.e. NDC revisions) to remain on track to meet targets before the end of the decisive decade?
  • What lessons can be applied across the region?
  • How have multilateral and private sector partners accelerated success?

 

  • Hon. Mark Brantley

    Nevis Island Administration
    Premier

  • Hon. Benarva Browne

    The Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
    Minister of Urban Development, Energy, Seaports, Grenadines Affairs and Local Government

  • Hon. Jobeth Lillian Coleby-Davis

    Government of the Bahamas
    Minister of Energy and Transport

  • Dr. James Fletcher

    CARICOM
    Climate Envoy and GGGI Council Member

  • Hon. Kerryne James

    Government of Grenada
    Minister of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy

  • Hon. Alexa N. H. Lightbourne, JP, MP

    Government of Bermuda
    Minister of Home Affairs

  • David Gumbs

    Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
    Director, Islands Energy Program Moderator

10:15-10:25

Launch of the Global RE Champions Initiative

REN 21 – the only global renewable energy network connecting governments, industries, NGOs, science and academia globally to accelerate the shift to renewables – will launch their Global RE Champions Network at CREF.

 

  • Dr. James Fletcher

    CARICOM
    Climate Envoy and GGGI Council Member

  • Ramón Méndez Galain

    REN21 Renewable Energy Champion

  • Laura Williamson

    REN21
    Senior Advisor

10:25-10:30

Blue Planet Alliance: Invitation to the Fellowship Program

  • Kneyone Murray

    Blue Planet Alliance
    Caribbean Director

10:30-11:15

The Future of the Utility & Grid Integration in the Caribbean

Caribbean utilities and regulators are at a watershed as they navigate the complexities of renewable integration, grid modernization, and decentralized energy. This session will explore the latest approaches and regulatory frameworks that are shaping the future of utility operations and grid resilience in the region.

  • How are utilities adapting to a more dynamic and distributed energy landscape?
  • How are utilities balancing large-scale renewables with distributed generation and microgrids?
  • How is regulatory policy driving the trajectory of the utility/DG balance to ensure participation of all parties, and achieve climate goals?
  • What financing models and policy reforms are critical to accelerating grid modernization?
  • How do national renewable energy targets align—or conflict—with the economic realities of operating a utility?

  • Delano R. Arthur

    Turks and Caicos Islands
    Commissioner, Energy and Utilities Department

  • Marsha Atherley-Ikechi

    OOCUR
    Executive Director

  • Nikita L. Mullings

    Grand Bahama Power Company
    Chief Operating Officer

  • Sacha Tibbetts

    Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd.
    VP Customer Services & Technology

  • Cherri-Ann Farquharson

    CCREEE
    Technical Chief of Staff Moderator

11:15-11:45

Refreshments and Networking

11:45-12:30

Caribbean Clean Energy Champions: Are the DFIs Delivering?

Multilateral and regional institutions play a critical role in financing clean energy, but are they stepping up fast enough?

  • What bottlenecks persist in funding large-scale projects?
  • Will COP29 and the Bridgetown Initiative accelerate financing?
  • How are DFIs and regional banks de-risking projects?
  • What impact will shifting U.S. policies have on investment flows?

 

  • Anton Edmunds

    Inter-American Development Bank
    General Manager- Country Department Caribbean Group

  • Gabriela Elizondo-Azuela

    The World Bank
    Practice Manager Energy Infrastructure, Latin America and the Caribbean

  • Kerry McCarthy

    Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) United Kingdom
    Minister for Climate, and the Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State

  • Dr. Mohammad Rafik Nagdee

    CCREEE
    Executive Director

  • Damie Sinanan

    Caribbean Export Development Agency
    Executive Director Moderator

12:30-1:15

Transformative Regulatory Reforms to Support Private Investment in Renewable Energy: Data Index, Findings and Key Priorities

As part of the ASERT 2030 strategy, CDB conducted detailed assessment of the regulatory frameworks of the Bank’s 19 borrowing member countries, using the Minimum Regulatory Function (MRF) as a basis.  This multi-part session will feature:

  • Presentation of Castalia’s dedicated Caribbean Project/Investment Database
  • Review of findings from the Readiness Index in the context of the MRF
  • Conclusions on gaps and weaknesses relative to the elements of the MRF
  • Insights into market trends and investment opportunities, as products of developments/shortcomings in regulation

  • David Ehrhardt

    Castalia
    CEO

  • Videsh Kissoon

    Caribbean Development Bank
    Sustainable Energy Specialist

  • Ricardo Munroe

    Castalia Advisors
    Senior Associate

1:15-2:45

Lunch & CREF 2025 Industry Awards

Join us for a celebration of excellence and innovation at the 7th Annual CREF Industry Awards! At CREF 2025, we’ll honor the trailblazers and changemakers driving the clean energy revolution across the Caribbean. The Awards ceremony will shine a spotlight on those making a lasting impact on the region’s sustainable future.

Have an outstanding project or program worthy of recognition? Submit your entry and discover more here!

2:45-3:30

New Pathways to Financing Caribbean Projects

  • Are we leaving carbon credits untapped?
  • Can green bonds gain traction in the Caribbean? How?
  • What’s preventing greater private-sector participation?
  • Are regional investors stepping up to lead RE financing?

  • Gerardo Aguilar

    Sygnus Capital
    Head of Climate and Energy

  • Adam Carter

    CIBC Caribbean
    Managing Director & Head, Investment Banking, Forex and Derivative Sales

  • Mariana Ruiz Alvarado

    European Investment Bank (EIB)
    Head of Regional Representation for the Caribbean

  • Miguel Toledo

    IFC
    Chief Investment Officer

  • Dustin Delany

    Dentons Delany
    Chair and Chief Managing Partner Moderator

3:30-4:30

Jamaica’s Clean Energy Journey

Jamaica’s 2024 energy tender marked a milestone. We examine the results of the 2024 tender and the outlook for the awarded projects.

  • How will new projects reshape Jamaica’s energy matrix?
  • What lessons from past tenders will shape future rounds?
  • What challenges remain in attracting private investment?
  • How do renewables sit alongside gas in national planning?
  • Is the C&I market for distributed taking off?

  • Michelle Chin Lenn

    Wigton Energy
    Deputy Chief Executive Officer

  • Emanuel DaRosa

    SunTerra Energy Ltd.
    Chief Executive Officer

  • Lennox Elvy

    Generation Procurement Entity, Jamaica
    Chairman

  • Ramiro Gomez Barinaga

    RELP
    Global Director of Country Delivery

  • Cheryl Lewis

    Office of Utilities Regulation, Jamaica
    Deputy Director-General, Legal and Consumer & Public Affairs

  • Rochelle Johnson

    The World Bank
    Energy Specialist Moderator

4:30-4:50

Refreshments and Networking

4:50-5:15

Dominican Republic: Next Steps to Supercharge Transition?

The Dominican Republic is a regional leader in the energy transition. What are the crucial next steps for grid modernization and energy storage?

  • What’s next in energy storage and grid modernization?  What challenges must be addressed to get there?
  • How are regulatory developments playing out, and what more needs to be done to facilitate and incentivize developments in the clean power space?
  • Assessing project pipeline and investment opportunities in the DR
  • The financing and legal perspective on the power sector
  • Gender policy at the forefront: How female participation in the power sector is driving advances in energy security and resilience

  • Carolina Silié Ruiz

    Headrick
    Partner

  • Betty Soto Viñas

    Ministry of Energy and Mines, Dominican Republic
    Vice Minister of Innovation and Energy Transition

5:15-6:15

Battery Storage: Case Studies, Applications and Regional Tenders

Battery storage is critical to the expansion of renewables on island grids. Exploring the trends, opportunities and dynamics of battery storage via discussion and case studies considering:

  • How can utilities be incentivized to adopt storage? 
  • What next-gen battery technologies will impact the Caribbean?
  • Best practice in grid integration; who is getting it right?
  • The outlook for storage tenders in the region

  • Edgar Benitez

    Saft
    Application Engineer Lead

  • Jesus Cintrón

    Genera PR
    Federal Program Senior Manager

  • Ali Nouri

    Smart Energy Ltd.
    CEO

  • Jorge Quintana

    Tesla
    Sr. Staff Account Manager, Utility, Energy Storage

  • Talal Kanaan

    The World Bank
    Energy Specialist Moderator

6:15-8:00

CREF 2025 Reception

Friday

May 9
6:30-7:00

CREF Fun Run

Sign up via registration.

8:00-9:00

CREF Roundtables: Off the Record, Collaborative, Solution Focused

Select your roundtable topic and join the conversation. These lightly moderated discussion tables invite multi-perspective approaches to the most pressing topics in Caribbean clean energy. Join us for these networking-focused roundtable sessions.

8:00-9:00

Table I: Should the Caribbean Bet on Nuclear SMRs?

Rise and Shine Roundtables

  • Eugene Tiah

    Caribbean Energy Chamber
    President and CEO

Table II: Is it Time to Take Biofuels Seriously?

Rise and Shine Roundtables

  • Dr. Legena Henry

    Rum and Sargassum Inc | University of the West Indies, Barbados
    CEO-Founder | Renewable Energy Lecturer

8:00-9:00

Table III: Energy Efficiency, the Low Hanging Fruit

Rise and Shine Roundtables

Sponsored by:

  • Nigel Hosein

    Aggreko
    Business Development Manager, Caribbean

Table IV: Climate-Resilient Energy Infrastructure

Rise and Shine Roundtables

  • Roberto G. Aiello

    Inter-American Development Bank
    Principal Regional Energy Specialist

8:00-9:00

Table V: Could Off-Shore Generation Be a Viable Feature of the Island Energy Matrix?

Rise and Shine Roundtables

  • L. Nigel Burgess

    Regulatory Authority of Bermuda
    Head of Regulation

Table VI: Stimulating the DG Market

Rise and Shine Roundtables

  • Charmaine Gill-Evans

    Caribbean Development Bank
    Sustainable Energy Specialist

  • Rachell Roullet

    Fortis TCI
    Vice President of Innovation, Technology and Strategic Planning

8:00-9:00

Table VII: Increasing Energy Access: Developing and Financing the Generation Capacity and Energy Infrastructure to Support Rural Communities

Rise and Shine Roundtables

  • Rafael Yari Cabanillas Gonzalez

    Trama TecnoAmbiental S.L.
    Project Manager and Energy Access Consultant

  • Evenson Calixte

    National Energy Regulatory Authority, Haiti (ANARSE)
    General Manager

  • Richard Paal

    EBS Suriname
    Project Manager

8:55-9:00

Day Two Chairperson Welcome

  • Kiesha Farnum

    Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)
    Head of Partnerships and Programmes

9:00-9:25

Straight Talk on the Market: What’s Happening, What’s Limiting, What’s Next?

Guided by two industry veterans, we take an honest look at the reality of the market. This interactive session, guided by audience polling, will explore  the drivers behind recent progress, the main barriers islands are facing on the road to expanding RE, and what needs to happen to move beyond these challenges.

  • Dr. James Fletcher

    CARICOM
    Climate Envoy and GGGI Council Member

  • Bruce Levy

    BMR Energy
    President and CEO

9:25-10:10

Trinidad & Tobago: Is a Viable RE Pipeline Finally Emerging?

Trinidad has long lagged in renewables—is that changing?

  • What does the project pipeline look like?
  • What’s the latest on solar RFPs and wind resource assessments?
  • How is the government shaping policy for a successful transition?
  • Could Trinidad play a regional energy interconnection role?

  • Sheldon Jerome

    NGC Green Company
    Commercial Manager

  • Bernardo Requena

    CAF
    Representative Trinidad & Tobago

  • Carlton Thomas

    National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago Limited
    Manager, Clean Energy Investment

  • Dr. Indra Haraksingh

    The University of the West Indies
    Doctor Moderator

10:10-10:55

Guyana & Suriname: Moving Along the Path to Energy Diversity

Key voices from both jurisdictions provide an update on progress, and what is to come, in the effort to diversify the energy matrix

  • Outlook for hydro, solar and energy efficiency 
  • Legislation developments and shortcomings, and impact on attracting investment

 

  • Dave Abeleven

    Abeleven Consulting and ProCise Consultancy
    Lead Consultant

  • Anand Kalpoe

    Energy Authority of Suriname
    Managing Director

  • Dr. Mahender Sharma

    Guyana Energy Agency
    Chief Executive Officer

  • Joseph Cox

    Institute for Innovation and Growth Inc.
    Managing Partner Moderator

10:55-11:35

Puerto Rico: Utility-Scale vs. Distributed Generation – An Unexpected Path to 100% by 2050?

As distributed generation (DG) surges, this session explores how Puerto Rico is balancing utility-scale energy with DG to achieve its 2050 goals. 

  • How are strategies for integrating DG into energy planning playing out?
  • What is the role of virtual power plants (VPPs) in grid stabilization?

 

  • María Hilda Rivera Ramírez

    LUMA Energy
    Director, Grid Modernization

  • Fernando Padilla

    CSA Group
    Vice President, Business Development

  • Nick Pastrana

    Power Solar
    Commercial Developments Director

  • Roberto Estevez

    Global Energy Alliance for People and the Planet (GEAPP)
    Country Delivery Manager - Latin America and Caribbean Moderator

11:35-11:50

Refreshments and Networking

11:50-12:35

Corporate End-Users and the Self-Generation Equation

A guided conversation between a corporate end-user, a utility and a regulator, on how self-generation can (or can’t) be a win for all.

  • What’s driving the corporate move to self-generation?
  • Can self-generation align with utility interests?
  • What policy and regulatory changes could facilitate a win-win?

  • Kyle Fleming

    Virgin Islands Energy Office
    Director

  • Donna Marie Howe

    Jamaica Bauxite Mining Ltd.
    Managing Director

  • Kirstin McCarthy

    Sandals Resorts International
    Corporate Director, Sustainability

  • Christopher Burgess

    Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
    Director of Projects Moderator

12:35-1:00

Rethinking Risk and Insurance for the Caribbean’s Clean Energy Future

This session explores the latest developments in risk management and insurance procurement, examining how new approaches can overcome capacity limitations and reduce prohibitive costs.

  • How can innovative insurance de-risk RE projects?
  • What new models can increase coverage affordability?

  • Gillian Charles-Gollop

    CIBC Caribbean
    Executive Director, Corporate Banking & Sustainable Finance

  • Tiago Favarin de Moraes

    Carpenter Marsh Fac Re, Marsh & McLennan Companies
    Head of Client Fac, SVP

  • Victoria Miles

    ImpactA Global
    Founding partner Moderator

1:00-1:30

Strengthening Grid Resilience: How Can Utilities Respond Faster to Climate Emergencies?

In the wake of the 2024 hurricane season, utilities face mounting pressure to optimize disaster response and climate resilience.

  • Lessons learnt from recent disasters and how can operational adjustments increase preparedness
  • Are incident command structures the solution to increasing response efficiency?
  • How can emerging technology, AI and data analytics be harnessed to better prepare and respond to climate-related incidents?
  • Looking at infrastructure modernization needs, such as undergrounding cables, how can these be financed and executed?

  • Roberto G. Aiello

    Inter-American Development Bank
    Principal Regional Energy Specialist

  • Maria Medard

    CARILEC
    Disaster Management Coordinator

  • Tanya Williams

    Jamaica Public Service Company
    Key Account Executive

  • Christina Becker-Birck

    Cadmus Group
    Vice President Moderator

1:30-2:30

Networking Lunch

2:30-4:00

Deep Dive Workshop: Is Geothermal Power Finally Within Reach?

Hosted by Exergy International

With progress being made in Dominica, and financing secured and drilling on the horizon in St. Kitts & Nevis, we take a closer look at the potential for geothermal to be a regional solution for clean baseload power. In a discussion led by Exergy, a leading geothermal ORC technology provider, we address progress to date and outlook for geothermal in the region, and explore new models that could increase the long-term viability of geothermal in the Caribbean.

  • Project updates & insights from island stakeholders, including current financing landscape for geothermal
  • Considering a full value chain approach- how could this model be structured and developed to include an initial financing scheme for the full value chain of geothermal development?
  • Power production, direct use or a combination? What mix of high/low enthalpy offers the best long-term economic value for Caribbean stakeholders?
    • Potential to support food security, industry and tourism, water desalination
    • Building community buy-in
  • Replication, connection and regional interconnection: Developing regional approaches to attract and retain developer and investor appetite
  • The potential of emerging technologies to drive down cost and risk, and what this means for the region’s geothermal futur
  • Considering regulatory frameworks to support geothermal

 

  • Hon. Mark Brantley

    Nevis Island Administration
    Premier

  • Judith Ephraim

    Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission
    Programme Coordinator, Sustainable Energy Unit

  • Hon. Kerryne James

    Government of Grenada
    Minister of Climate Resilience, the Environment and Renewable Energy

  • Fred John

    Dominica Geothermal Development Company
    Chairman

  • Sara Milanesi

    Exergy International
    Head of Marketing and Communications, Business Advisor

  • Sylvain Brogle

    Exergy International
    Business Advisor Moderator

4:00-4:15

CREF 2025 Wrap-Up: Charting the Course for 2026, and Close

We’ve discussed the challenges and opportunities, now what are the top action items for the year to come?

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