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  April 26 - 28, 2023 Miami, Florida

Agenda

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

What can you expect from the CREF 2023 agenda?

Pre-CREF Day | April 26

  • Launch of H2-Caribbean. Parsing the opportunity behind the hype, the launch of the Hydrogen Summit for the Caribbean on April 26 reflects a pressing need to assess the viability of H2 production, use and export across the region. We’ll assess the competitive landscape, the models, the opportunities, and the hurdles. Pipe dream or once-in-a-generation opportunity? Join us as we find out.
  • 2023 Island Resilience Action Challenge. Co-organized by Advanced Energy Group, IRAC is the benchmark for outcome-oriented events in the region. Join 100 regional leaders as we triage the most pressing challenge facing the region’s energy sector – and then work, together, towards a solution.

CREF 2023 | April 27-28

  • 100 speakers, no fillers. 25+ sessions over two days, an agenda with no fillers – just the cream of regional and international policy-makers, utilities, financiers, investors, developers, and multilaterals. No fluff, no pitches; just actionable, expert content.
  • Caribbean country spotlights. From Jamaica and Barbados to Trinidad and Guyana, we gather national leaders across multiple jurisdictions to bring you up-to-speed on progress, milestones and opportunities for investment and engagement.
  • Extended coverage of Puerto Rico & the Dominican Republic. Granular reporting and deep-dive insights from two regional markets that are blazing the clean energy trail. What’s next, and where are the opportunities to get involved?
  • Presentation of CREF 2023 Industry Awards. The benchmark for excellence in projects and policy, execution and implementation. We’ll be announcing the 2023 Awards at a presentation lunch – and you’re invited.
  • Women in Renewable Energy Lunch. The inaugural 2022 Women in Renewable Energy lunch at CREF 2022 gathered 60+ leaders from across the energy spectrum. With our partners, we’ll be back for more discussion and networking.
  • 2023 CREF-Castalia Index & Marketplace. Benchmark data and analysis on countries and projects, available exclusively for CREF delegates.
  • Deep-Dive Networking Roundtables. New for 2023, join – and be heard – at a series of intimate, lightly-facilitated discussions across a range of topics, from the implementation of storage and cutting-edge regulation, to delivering on distributed generation and next-generation utility business models.

Want to get involved in this year’s event? We’d love to hear from you.

Wednesday

April 26
Additional Enrollment Required
9:00-1:00

2023 Island Resilience Action Challenge (IRAC 2023)

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. More information here.

Invitation Only
12:30-2:00

Women in Renewable Energy Lunch

If you would like to be considered for an invitation, please mark your interest in the “Optional Sessions’ portion of registration. If you have already registered and are unsure if you have indicated your interest, please click the “Modify Registration” button in your confirmation email to review your registration choices.

Additional Enrollment Required
2:00-6:00

H2-Caribbean Summit

The 1st annual Hydrogen Summit for the Caribbean (H2-Caribbean 2023) is designed to bring the upstream and downstream market together to explore the viability and potential of Hydrogen to bolster and transform regional economies. More information here. 

 

6:00

CREF Welcome Cocktail Reception

Thursday

April 27
8:00-8:30

Exhibition and Networking

8:30-8:35

CREF 2023 Welcome Remarks

  • Jerry Butler

    Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF)
    Founding Chairman

8:35-9:00

CREF 2023 Stage Setter: Where Is Our Market Now?

  • Reflecting on global economic, climate and technological developments over the past five years, how have events impacted and been acted upon in the Caribbean energy space?
  • What actions and policies would be needed to reduce carbon based fuel use, reduce energy costs, and insulate the countries from oil and gas price volatility?
  • Where do we need to center conversation and action in CREF and beyond?

  • James Fletcher

    CCREEE Executive Board
    Chairman

  • Bruce Levy

    BMR Energy
    President and CEO

  • Racquel Moses

    Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator
    Chief Executive Officer Moderator

9:00-10:10

The CREF Ministerial: Are We Delivering On Energy Security and Climate Resilience for the Region?

In the annual CREF Ministerial, regional leaders explore how national strategies need to evolve and adapt in light of the current global energy dynamic, the pressing need for decarbonization and the drive for energy security. Are we adapting, and are we delivering?

  • National clean energy and energy transition targets and milestones: Are we succeeding? 
  • Given the recent economic disruptions and competing priorities in each jurisdiction, are governments doing enough to prioritize the energy transition? 
  • What has been the response to the current energy crisis and how has that impacted energy transition plans?
  • Will countries add new renewable generation, when will they do it and how much will they add?

  • Hon. Mark Brantley

    Nevis Island Administration
    Premier

  • Hon. Quincia Gumbs Marie

    Government of Anguilla
    Minister of Sustainability, Innovation & the Environment

  • Hon. Kerryne Z. James

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

  • Hon. Otis C. Morris, MP

    Turks and Caicos Islands Government
    Minister of Home Affairs, Transportation, Broadcasting, Energy and Utilities and Telecommunications Commission

  • Hon. Walter Roban, JP, MP

    Government of Bermuda
    Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs

  • Ariel Yépez-García

    Inter-American Development Bank
    Manager, Infrastructure Department Moderator

10:10-11:00

Thrive not Survive: Can Caribbean Utilities Rise to the Challenge?

Facing a financial squeeze, and the double demand of delivering on clean energy, and ensuring affordable energy to consumers, how are utilities adapting to this new paradigm?

  • What will it take to shift the paradigm towards a green utility future and avoid short-term financial disruption?
  • Given the pressures of current market dynamics, how must utilities adapt their financial and operational models in response?
  • In what way have the current energy crisis/supply chain issues impacted utility RE investment plans?
  • For countries with net-zero targets, is there an IRP in place paving the way? What will it imply for cost of power to consumers? What is the strategy to ensure grid stability in the process?
  • How are islands without net-zero targets focusing their energy strategy, and how will developments be financed given current market conditions?
  • How have utilities been impacted by some jurisdictions’ cap on fuel surcharge to consumers?

  • Hon. Wayne Michael Caines

    BELCO and Liberty Group Limited
    President

  • Shevonn Cambridge

    Bahamas Power and Light
    Chief Executive Officer

  • Richard Hew

    Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd
    Chief Executive Officer

  • Clive Hosten

    Grenada Electricity Services (GRENLEC)
    Chief Executive Officer

  • Rachell Roullet

    Fortis TCI
    Vice President of Innovation, Technology and Strategic Planning

  • David Gumbs

    Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
    Principal, Global South Moderator

11:00-11:25

Networking

11:25-11:30

PACC 2030

  • Barbara Feinstein

    United States Department of State
    Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs

11:30-11:50

State of the Markets: Benchmarking Progress to Objectives

How does progress towards the energy transition correlate to national objectives? This market-by-market study reveals which Caribbean countries are on target – and which are still fighting for traction. The study, representing an exhaustive survey of regional governments and utilities, also provides insights into where key national stakeholders perceive the challenges to lie.

  • David Ehrhardt

    Castalia Advisors
    Chief Executive

11:50-12:45

The Financing Session: How is 2023 Different?

Even if inflation cools, higher interest rates and choppy macroeconomic waters will likely persist into 2023. How will prevailing market conditions impact the bankability of PPAs and the flow of capital into regional clean energy projects?

  • Do we need more capital? Or more well-developed, bankable projects?
  • In today’s unpredictable market environment, can concessional finance better serve the region? Can we do more with blended finance instruments?
  • How is the changing climate impacting project risk and bankability? What tools are coming on-line to measure and mitigate?
  • Is it feasible to aggregate RE projects cross-border to augment investor appetite?

  • Fernando Alvarado

    Deetken Impact
    CEO

  • Daniel Best

    Caribbean Development Bank (CDB)
    Director of the Projects Department

  • Adam Carter

    CIBC FirstCaribbean
    Managing Director - Investment Banking

  • Stephen Grell

    Republic Bank (Guyana) Limited
    Managing Director

  • Ciani Smith

    U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC)
    Associate Director Structured Finance & Political Risk Insurance

  • Nils Janson

    K&M Advisors
    Managing Director, Policy and Regulation Moderator

12:45-1:30

Spotlight: Puerto Rico

Despite challenging prevailing conditions, Puerto Rico has made extraordinary strides towards ambitious energy transition objectives. An ambitious program led by Puerto Rico’s Energy Bureau (PREB) aims to procure 3.75 GW of renewables and 1.5 GW of storage as part of the island’s bid – as set out in Act 17 – to be 100% renewable by 2050. Meanwhile, the distributed market has taken off, too. 

  • What are the lessons learned from the first two tenders? How bankable are secured PPAs in an environment of high inflation and elevated interest rates?
  • Timeframe and expectations for the next tender from PREB?
  • Will the embattled Luma continue to manage transmission and distribution?
  • How does the huge uptick in distributed energy impact the grid and the economics of the PR energy market?
  • What are the implications of the Inflation Reduction Act, and other federal funding initiatives, for the development of the market?

  • Francisco Berríos Portela

    Puerto Rico
    Deputy Chief of Staff for Energy Affairs

  • Agustín F. Carbó

    U.S. Department of Energy
    Director of Puerto Rico Grid Recovery & Modernization Team, Grid Deployment Office

  • Meghan Nutting

    Sunnova
    Executive Vice President, Government and Regulatory Affairs

  • Antonio Torres Miranda

    Puerto Rico Energy Bureau
    Associate Commissioner

  • Angel R. Rivera de la Cruz

    Nu Energy Consulting Group LLC
    CEO and Principal Moderator

1:30-3:00

Lunch & CREF 2023 Awards Presentation

The 5th annual CREF Industry Awards will recognize excellence in clean energy innovation and project execution across the region. View all award categories for 2023 here.

 

3:00-3:45

Energy Storage: The Caribbean’s Standout Projects

Storage is taking off in the Caribbean. Spotlighting standout projects, we analyze best practice, emerging trends, and the project pipeline across the region.

– What pricing are we seeing for storage projects in the Caribbean?

– How is global volatility in supply, demand and pricing impacting regional projects?

– Key challenges and takeaways in centralized and decentralized systems

– Building a business case for storage in the region; regulation is key: exploring obstacles, enablers, incentives

– Storage as a key link to increased reliability and resilience

– What does the project pipeline look like and which markets are pulling ahead?

  • Collin George Brown

    RAE.nrg
    Principal Engineer

  • Kyle Fleming

    Virgin Islands Energy Office | Virgin Islands Water & Power Authority
    Director | Chairman

  • Lincoy Small

    Jamaica Public Service Company Ltd (JPS)
    Director, Systems Operations

  • Athanasius Smith

    Bermuda Electric Light Company Limited
    Director, Procurement and Logistics

  • Frederic Verdol

    The World Bank
    Infrastructure Program Leader for the Caribbean Moderator

The Evolution in Energy Market Regulation

Regulation is the backbone of the energy transition. How can regional regulators lead from the front?

- How have island regulators adapted regulation to reflect the current energy dynamic and government RE and storage objectives?

- What further changes would support an efficient and effective transition policy?

- The varying regulatory approaches to DG around the region: Does regulation match need? Are regulators wrestling successfully with storage?

  • Dr. Marsha Atherley-Ikechi

    Fair Trading Commission, Barbados
    Chief Executive Officer

  • Carlos Echeverria

    Inter-American Development Bank
    Senior Carbon Finance Consultant

  • Ansord Hewitt

    Office of Utilities Regulation, Jamaica
    Director General

  • Allison A. Jean

    National Utilities Regulatory Commission, St. Lucia
    Chief Executive Officer

  • Chris Straughn

    Caribbean Development Bank
    Sustainable Energy Specialist Moderator

3:45-4:30

Project Developer Perspectives: Delivering Bankable Projects in Volatile Market Conditions

– What factors are dominating decision-making for project developers?

– How are they responding to challenges related to supply chain, inflationary pressures, evolving project risk?

– How do project developers view the viability of the pipeline given current market dynamics?

  • Wayne McKenzie

    Jamaica Energy Partners
    President and CEO

  • Michael Orantes

    BMR Energy
    Director Business Development

  • Angella Rainford

    Soleco Energy
    Founder and CEO

  • Ina de Visser

    GIZ
    Programme Director, City Climate Finance Gap Fund Moderator

3:45-4:10

Suriname’s Energy Future

Country Session

  • Given the potential of the offshore discoveries, what is the vision for the energy sector?
  • What is the outlook for sustainable options and the use of renewables?
  • Will Suriname prioritize development of clean energy?
  • What does the roadmap look like?
  • Will this newfound hydrocarbon-derived wealth translate into wider benefits for a just transition in the region?

  • Dave Abeleven

    Energy Authority of Suriname
    Managing Director

  • Orlando Olmberg

    Suriname Energy Chamber
    President

4:10-4:30

Turks and Caicos Islands

Country Session

  • State of the energy industry in TCI
  • Assessing current and planned microgrid projects and feasibilities studies for alternative energy sources
  • Key imperatives for updating the regulations governing the country’s energy industry

  • Devon Cox

    FortisTCI
    Senior Vice President of Operations and Assistant Corporate Secretary

  • Justin Ram

    Justin Ram Advisory Services
    CEO

4:30-5:00

Networking

5:00-5:45

Dominican Republic

Country Session

– What are the nationally-stated objectives for renewables and are they viable?

– Project pipeline: who is building and who is financing?

– Expectations for PPA prices? will the administration comply with pricing on existing contracts?

– What will incentivize investor appetite for the DR?

– Are investors and financial institutions willing to accept more spot market risk?

– Energy storage: clarity on incentives, regulation and implementation

– How is the DR addressing transmission challenges and planning for grid stability?

  • Andrés Enmanuel Astacio Polanco

    Dominican Republic
    Superintendent, Superintendencia de Electricidad

  • Ricardo Estevez

    EGE Haina
    Senior Development Manager

  • Roberto Herrera

    Interenergy Group | CESPM
    DR Country Manager and Board Member | CEO

  • Edward Veras

    NATIONAL ENERGY COMMISSION (CNE)
    Executive Director

  • Carolina Silié Ruiz

    Headrick
    Partner Moderator

Trinidad and Tobago

Country Session

- What progress have we seen since CREF 2022 in renewable energy, energy efficiency and decarbonization initiatives? Is the commitment real?

- Trinidad’s utility-scale solar PV: update and future plans for RE development at utility scale

- How does Trinidad’s energy strategy interplay with the needs and wants of industry?

- Green hydrogen: Trinidad’s silver bullet?

  • Vernon Paltoo

    National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago
    President

  • Dale Ramlakhan

    HDF TT | NewGen Energy Ltd.
    Country Manager | Project Director

  • Alicia Taylor

    IDB Invest
    Investment Management Lead Officer - Infrastructure and Energy division

  • Darryl White

    RBC Financial Caribbean Limited | RBC Caribbean
    CEO | Regional Vice President Corporate and Investment Banking Moderator

5:45-6:30

Jamaica

Country Session

The question on everyone’s lips: Will the next RFP for the procurement of renewables see the light of day in 2023?

– Will we see the regulation needed to enable DG to thrive?

– Will the RFP be the solution to Jamaica’s energy needs and satisfy customer expectations for reliable and affordable service, or a burden on end-users due to unaddressed concerns?

– What does effective and viable procurement look like for Jamaica?

  • Lennox Elvy

    Generation Procurement Entity, Jamaica
    Chairman

Belize

Country Session

- What does an updated National Energy Policy and associated legislative developments imply for the project pipeline and opportunities for investment?

- The Access to Energy Services Initiative: A key progress marker for national mini-grid electrification?

- Assessing Belize’s electric vehicle ambitions, including programs, both municipal and long distance

- Testing the waters in Belize for potential co-generation from organic wastes

  • Hon. Michel Chebat

    Government of Belize
    Minister, Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and E-governance

  • Deon Kelly

    Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and E-Governance, Belize
    Director of Energy

  • Federico Baechli

    The World Bank
    Senior Country Officer, Caribbean Country Management Unit Moderator

6:30-8:00

CREF Networking Reception

Friday

April 28
Additional Enrollment Required
6:30-7:30

CREF Morning Activity

Choose between CREF Sunrise Yoga or the annual CREF Fun Run! 

Sign up via registration. 

8:00-9:15

Rise and Shine Roundtables

New for 2023, join – and be heard – at a series of intimate, lightly-facilitated discussions across a range of topics, from the implementation of storage and cutting-edge regulation, to delivering on distributed generation and next-generation utility business models.

8:00-9:15

Resilience Build and Disaster Management Planning: What are the Real Priorities?

Rise and Shine Roundtable

Reinvigorating Geothermal: As Momentum Surrounding Geothermal Builds in the Region, What Must Stakeholders do to Deliver on the Potential?

Rise and Shine Roundtable

  • Judith Ephraim

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

  • Christiaan Gischler

    Inter-American Development Bank
    Lead Energy Specialist Moderator

8:00-9:15

Regulation to Stimulate the Energy Transition

Rise and Shine Roundtable

What’s New in Energy Efficiency?

Rise and Shine Roundtable

  • Nigel Hosein

    Aggreko
    Business Development Manager, Caribbean Moderator

  • Illia Stifel

    Aggreko
    Regional Business Development Manager Moderator

8:00-9:15

Marine Renewable Energy

Rise and Shine Roundtable

  • Chris Straughn

    Caribbean Development Bank
    Sustainable Energy Specialist Moderator

E-Mobility The Caribbean’s Electric Future

Rise and Shine Roundtable

  • Richard Ramrattan

    RenergyTT Ltd. | Electrify Company Ltd.
    Managing Director | Operations Director Moderator

8:00-9:15

DG, Storage and Microgrids

Rise and Shine Roundtable

  • Deon Kelly

    Ministry of Public Utilities, Energy, Logistics and E-Governance, Belize
    Director of Energy Moderator

Gender Integration as an Investment Accelerator

Rise and Shine Roundtable

  • Charlin Bodley

    RMI Energy Transition Academy
    Manager Moderator

8:00-9:15

Accelerating Universal Access to Electricity in Haiti

  • Evenson Calixte

    Energy Regulatory Authority of Haiti
    Managing Director Moderator

The Modern Utility

  • David Gumbs

    Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI)
    Principal, Global South Moderator

9:15-9:30

Welcome Remarks

  • Lilia Burunciuc

    The World Bank
    Country Director for the Caribbean Countries

9:30-10:15

Keynote Fireside Chat: Correlating Multilateral Funding to Projects and Impact in the Caribbean

  • What high value projects/programs are DFIs prioritizing in the region?
  • What are the drivers behind these decisions and what is the expected impact?
  • How can DFIs mobilize private capital for regional projects? Can we do more with blended finance?

  • Anna Shpitsberg

    U.S. Department of State
    Deputy Assistant Secretary for Energy Transformation

  • Isaac Solomon

    Caribbean Development Bank
    Vice President, Operations

  • Joseph Cox

    CARICOM Secretariat
    Executive Board Member and Assistant Secretary-General Trade and Economic Integration Moderator

10:15-11:00

Does Good ESG and Impact Investing Practice Translate into Capital for Renewable Energy Projects in the Caribbean?

  • How does aligning projects with ESG and impact investing practices deliver on investment and on the ground action?
  • Which ESG approaches are most applicable and impactful in the Caribbean context?
  • How do we measure and report on the impacts on local communities of accessible energy, job creation and opportunity, gender equality, as a result of applied ESG?
  • Can we correlate successful capacity-building to ESG investment?
  • Best approaches to integrating DEI & gender milestones to attract investors and create impact

  • Alexa Blain

    Deetken Impact
    Managing Partner

  • Gillian Charles-Gollop

    CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank
    Executive Director, Corporate Banking & Sustainable Finance

  • Hülya Sögüt

    Portland Private Equity
    ESG Partner

  • Martin Vogt

    MPC Energy Solutions
    CEO

  • Miguel Toledo

    IFC
    Chief Investment Officer Moderator

11:00-11:20

Networking

11:20-12:00

Powering Private Sector Leaders: Distributed Generation Markets to Watch in 2023

From the perspective of regional conglomerate leaders, we gauge the regional appetite for distributed projects, what’s driving the market, which regulators are best supporting DG, and where we can expect to see growth in 2023.

  • Anthony Ali

    Goddard Enterprises Limited
    CEO

  • Gebhard Rainer

    Sandals Resorts International
    CEO

  • Ralph ‘Bizzy’ Williams

    Williams Industries Inc.
    Founder & Chairman

  • Anaitée Mills

    Cadmus Group LLC
    Chair of the Jamaica Energy Resilience Alliance Moderator

12:00-12:45

The E-Mobility Session: Is the Rubber Meeting the Road?

Are we seeing meaningful progress towards EV deployment? Where, and what can we learn?

  • State of play in terms of technologies/expectations from OEMs
  • How will supply chain issues continue to affect roll-out and how can we mitigate?
  • Planning for effective service and support for EV infrastructure
  • Who should be – and is – financing EV infrastructure?

  • Xavier Gordon, BSc., B.Eng.

    Flash Motors
    President

  • Jeane Nikolai

    Government of Bermuda
    Director of Energy

  • Katie Lineweaver Robinson

    Electrification Coalition
    Vice President of Programs and Operations

12:45-1:30

Enhancing Energy Security in the Caribbean Through Integration and Clean Energy

In the face of global volatility and a rapidly-changing climate has the landscape shifted for governments and utilities looking at the long-term provision of baseload?

  • What is the current price/economics of delivered wind, solar + storage and other sources of new and traditional firm power in the Caribbean?
  • Offshore wind is much-touted but is it possible and economic at the regional scale?
  • Does gas look less appealing today? Where LNG appetite remains, are small-scale and flexible contracts the emerging trend?
  • Is geothermal more likely to make headway now? Does Hydrogen change the narrative for geothermal? 
  • How does H2 change the picture, if at all?
  • How can we take a comprehensive view of market integration towards the ultimate goal of energy transition and security?

  • Roberto G. Aiello

    Inter-American Development Bank
    Principal Regional Energy Specialist for the Caribbean

  • Darick Jonis

    Aqualectra
    Chief Executive Officer

  • Sacha Tibbetts

    Caribbean Utilities Company, Ltd.
    Vice President, Customer Service & Technology

  • Alfonso Guzman

    K&M Advisors
    President Moderator

1:30-3:00

Lunch and Close of CREF 2023

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