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 This conference was held from October 27 - 28, 2021

Agenda

CREF went virtual for 2021! What drove the agenda?

Pre-Covid, the Caribbean’s pathway toward a low-carbon energy future was beginning to become clear. The events of the past year have put a spotlight on the urgency of sustainable and resilient energy policy and investment. The region is ready to upshift from aspirational thinking to innovative, impactful action, and industry stakeholders are taking note.

CREF will gather regional stakeholders twice over the course of six months to build that new paradigm—creating a competitive market that effectively delivers clean and resilient electric grids. First at CREF Virtual in October 2021, bringing the region together to come to grips on what the new normal for the Caribbean clean energy market looks like. Then, CREF Miami in April, when we’ll meet in person for the first time since 2019 to accelerate the promise of projects to action in the region.

We’ll be exploring the following themes:

  • The Big Picture. How has the macro context to the energy transition in the Caribbean changed? Is there the political will – and capital – to get it done? What are the implications of the US push for clean energy? Does COP26 matter, and why?
  • The Project Pipeline. What’s new, what’s stalled, and which projects are making headway? What needs to be done to build a bankable project pipeline in today’s environment?
  • Markets Making Moves. We’ll be drilling down into success stories and opportunities in the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, the OECS, Jamaica, and more.
  • At the Cutting Edge. Are we seeing (at last) a breakthrough for distributed generation and storage in the Caribbean? Are we on track for EVs?
  • Landscape for Financing. How has the appetite for risk changed? How does that impact in project bankability? Perspectives from the multilaterals, commercial lenders, private equity, and philanthropic capital. Is there too much capital chasing too few projects?
  • Challenges to Project Development in 2021-22. How have the past two years impacted supply chains, labor force and other defining components of project development in the region?

Be there for the Caribbean’s premier clean energy event, as we make what happens next.

Interested in speaking at CREF? Apply here.

Wednesday

October 27
Times in ET
9:15-10:00

Build Forward: An Ambitious Initiative to Accelerate the Energy Transition in the Caribbean

Breakfast Session: Co-Hosted By Inter-American Development Bank

  • Racquel Moses

    Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator
    CEO

  • Angella Rainford

    Soleco Energy | Rekamniar Frontier Ventures
    CEO

  • Dr. Gary Jackson

    Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)
    Executive Director

  • Joseph Williams

    Caribbean Development Bank
    Coordinator, Renewable Energy/Energy Efficiency Unit

  • Dr. Roland Roesch

    IRENA Innovation and Technology Center (IITC)
    Deputy Director

  • Roberto G. Aiello

    Inter-American Development Bank
    Principal Regional Energy Specialist Moderator

10:00-10:15

CREF Welcome

  • Jerry Butler

    Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF)
    Chairman

  • Racquel Moses

    Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator
    CEO

10:15-10:45

A Walk-Through of Projects and Programs Around the Region. What’s New, What’s Stalled, What’s Moving Again?

Part on-stage discussion, part crowdsourcing exercise, over the course of this session we’ll work together to frame a view of the landscape across the Caribbean. Come prepared to tell us what’s happening on your island nation.

 

  • David Gumbs

    RMI Islands Energy Program
    Director

  • Dr. Justin Ram

    Justin Ram Advisory Services
    CEO

10:45-11:00

Leadership Perspective

Cayman’s new administration has put clean energy and resilience front and center. The Honourable Premier joins us on stage to describe his vision for the Cayman Islands and the Caribbean, and gives his thoughts on how we can translate ambitious goals into reality.

  • Hon. G. Wayne Panton, JP, MP

    Cayman Islands
    Premier

11:00-11:30

COP26 Interview: Why Does COP26 Matter for the Caribbean?

Keynote Interview

The hosts of COP26, the UK government, take the stage alongside a former regional minister to assess the prospects for COP26 to have a meaningful impact on the energy transition in the Caribbean.

  • Harriet Cross

    United Kingdom
    British High Commissioner to Trinidad and Tobago

  • Stephanie Gil

    The World Bank
    Practice Manager, Latin America and the Caribbean Region, Energy and Extractives Global Practice

  • James Fletcher

    SOLORICON | Caribbean Climate Justice Project
    Managing Director | Founder

  • Matthew Perks

    New Energy Events
    CEO Moderator

11:30-12:20

Reset, Rethink, Invest: Transforming Clean Energy Aspirations into Action

Government ministers and regional leaders take the stage to debate how to power back up clean energy investment across the region as we look beyond COP26, and the pressing need to accelerate change.

Ultimately: what does the region need to do, and need, to convert energy transition commitments into an on-the-ground surge of investment?

  • Hon. Stephenson King

    St. Lucia
    Senior Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development, and Urban Renewal

  • Hon. Walter Roban, JP, MP

    Government of Bermuda
    Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs

  • Hon. Stuart R Young, MP

    Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
    Minister of Energy and Energy Industries

  • Stephanie Gil

    The World Bank
    Practice Manager, Latin America and the Caribbean Region, Energy and Extractives Global Practice

  • Hon. Shawn K. Richards

    Saint Kitts and Nevis
    Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Public Infrastructure, Post & Urban Development

  • Therese Turner-Jones

    Inter-American Development Bank
    General Manager, Caribbean Country Department Moderator

12:20-12:30

Flash Networking

12:30-1:30

Financing as the Driver of the Caribbean Energy Transition

  • How has the landscape for financing evolved in the region over the past two years?
  • What funding does climate finance open up to borrowers? Is more philanthropic capital available and on what terms?
  • How can we use early-stage funding to increase project bankability long-term?
  • What innovative sources of financing can be tapped to stimulate renewables development?

  • Adam Carter

    CIBC First Caribbean
    Managing Director, Head - Investment Banking

  • Doug Hewson

    Portland Private Equity
    Managing Partner

  • Ray Klien

    Republic Bank
    Group Head, Investment Banking

  • Fernando Zúñiga

    MPC Energy Solutions
    Managing Director Latin America & Caribbean

  • Alexa Blain

    Deetken Impact
    Managing Partner Moderator

1:30-2:00

Taking The Pulse

Live Polling Session

Join us for a live polling session as we gauge the key trends, drivers, challenges and outlook across islands and renewable technologies. A panel of experts will be on stage to discuss the implications.

  • Jerry Butler

    Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF)
    Chairman

  • Bruce Levy

    BMR Energy
    CEO and President

  • Racquel Moses

    Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator
    CEO

2:00-2:45

Puerto Rico: Will The Massive RFP for Storage and Solar Translate into Projects on the Ground?

Island Spotlight

Assessing the implications for the Puerto Rico grid and exploring investment opportunities.

  • Update on winning renewable energy projects from the RFP and regulatory approvals
  • How is the grid rebuild playing out and where are the next opportunities to participate?
  • Status of ongoing projects, and project pipeline

  • Angel R. Rivera de la Cruz

    Puerto Rico Energy Bureau
    Associate Commissioner

  • Javier Rúa-Jovet

    Solar & Energy Storage Association of Puerto Rico (SESA-PR)
    Chief Policy Officer

  • Roy Torbert

    Rocky Mountain Institute
    Principal Moderator

Dominican Republic

Island Spotlight

Can the renewable energy momentum in the Dominican Republic be sustained?

• To what extent has recent momentum been informed by the new administration?
• Girasol, and what's next from EGE Haina?
• What concrete plans are emerging for new grid and generation developments & investments?

  • José A. Rodríguez

    EGE Haina
    Senior Director of Development

  • Hector Baldivieso

    Inter-American Development Bank
    Energy Specialist

  • Yomayra Martinó

    GreEnergy
    Lead Consultant Moderator

2:45-3:00

Flash Networking

3:00-3:45

Island Resilience Action Challenge: The Impact Award

Co-Hosted By Advanced Energy Group


At the Island Resilience Action Challenge 2020, a group of committed regional stakeholders set out to change the way we evaluate resilience on islands. The vision? A groundbreaking scorecard which could be implemented across islands. Featuring collaboration across multiple jurisdictions, the task force has come a long way in 12 months, but have they succeeded? We’ll ask the CREF audience to be the judge. 

  • H.G. Chissell

    Advanced Energy Group
    CEO

  • Gregg Anderson

    OfReg, Cayman Islands
    Executive Director, Energy

  • Francine Baron

    Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica (CREAD)
    CEO

  • Jeane Nikolai

    Government of Bermuda
    Director of Energy, Telecommunications, Space and Satellite

3:45-4:30

Island Resilience Scorecard: The Ask-Anything Roundtable

Co-Hosted by Advanced Energy Group

Join us for a roundtable discussion as we dive deeper into the components of the Island Resilience Scorecard and the trajectory of its roll out in the Caribbean – and at COP26. Over the course of a deeply interactive session, this is your opportunity to meet the team, ask clarifying questions, provide feedback, and learn more about the process.

  • Get a sense for ways in which you might be able as an island stakeholder to engage with the Resilience Scorecard
  • Help shape how best to represent the Scorecard at COP26

  • H.G. Chissell

    Advanced Energy Group
    CEO

  • Kiesha Farnum

    Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator
    Director, Public Sector Projects

  • A.D. Ramirez (Kayo)

    Coastal8
    Strategic Development

  • Ellise Darwton

    Dominica Electricity Services Limited
    Corporate Secretary/Legal Officer

Trinidad & Tobago

Island Spotlight

What is the vision to transition T&T’s Energy Sector from hydrocarbons to towards a green economy?

• Status of ongoing projects and initiatives, and project pipeline.
• What legislation is on the horizon to incorporate renewable energy and energy efficiency?
• Harnessing oil and gas revenues to support energy transition initiatives.
• Utilizing green hydrogen as cornerstone towards low carbon ambitions.

  • Penelope Bradshaw-Niles

    Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago
    Permanent Secretary (Ag.), Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries

  • Dr. Vernon Paltoo

    National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago
    President

  • Dr. Thackwray Driver

    The Energy Chamber of Trinidad and Tobago
    President and CEO Moderator

4:30-5:00

Implementing ESG for Project Success by Creating Value for Stakeholders

Co-Hosted By MPC Energy Solutions

The S in ESG is all important for true project success. A sustainable project should therefore create long-term value for stakeholders and corporates alike – in both the short and long-term. Regional leader MPC Energy Solutions will demonstrate through case studies the importance of creating value for stakeholders in the ESG context.

  • Juan Esteban Hernández

    MPC Energy Solutions
    Head of Project Development Latam

  • Michael Kopenhagen

    MPC Capital
    Director Asset Management

Atlantic Canada and the Caribbean: Exploring the Parallels and the Opportunities

Co-Hosted By Atlantic Canada



A session exploring the combination of factors which have allowed Atlantic Canadian companies to technologically respond to the energy challenges of our time: the growing cost of fossil imported fuels, growing demand for reliable and cost-effective electricity as a base for a competitive economy and the need of balancing climate change responsibilities.

• What are the parallels?
• How has the private sector responded?
• What can Atlantic Canada and the Caribbean learn from each other?
• How Atlantic Canadian companies have picked up the challenge and come up with responses that are affecting our region.


  • David Lea

    CBCL
    Senior Project Manager

  • Ben Forsyth

    LED Roadway Lighting
    Director of Sales

  • Daniel Roscoe

    Roswall Development Inc.
    Managing Director

  • Jerry Butler

    Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum (CREF)
    Chairman Moderator

5:00

Closing Remarks for CREF Day One

  • Racquel Moses

    Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator
    CEO

Thursday

October 28
9:00-9:40

Geothermal and the Caribbean: Overcoming Barriers to Development. Restructuring the Narrative

Breakfast Debate

The push for geothermal power production has been long standing within the Caribbean. Developmental barriers have significantly lengthened project timelines, which has led to the question – “Can we really get geothermal done in the Caribbean?” How do we meaningfully address these (technical, operational, financial and policy) barriers? Should efforts towards direct-use applications be sought? What transformational solutions and different approaches can be offered to steer more definitive, geothermal success in the region?

  • Judith Ephraim

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

  • Jason Fisher


    Geologist/Researcher

  • Albert Gordon

    Nevis Electricity Company Limited (NEVLEC)
    General Manager

  • Terrence Gilliard

    Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports, Transport, Physical Development and Urban Renewal, Saint Lucia
    Chief Energy Officer, Energy and Public Utilities Division

  • Dr. Cletus Bertin

    CARILEC
    Executive Director Moderator

9:40-10:00

The CREF | Castalia Utility and Government Market Survey

In the run up to CREF, Castalia polled government and utilities on sentiment coming out of the region as we emerge from the pandemic and as we look towards COP26. We explore the results on stage and ask you, the audience, to examine the implications. 

  • Veronica Lizzio

    Castalia Advisors
    Manager, Sustainable Energy

10:00-10:05

Chairperson Welcome

  • Gillian Charles-Gollop

    CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank
    Executive Director, Corporate Investment Banking and Advisory

10:05-10:30

Redefining Resilience: How Have Regional Priorities Changed?

The last year has seen resilience redefined. We address how regional perceptions and priorities have shifted over the past 18 months and underline primary objectives in support of energy transition goals.

  • Isaac Solomon

    Caribbean Development Bank
    Vice President, Operations

  • Kathryn Funk

    The World Bank
    Operations Manager, Caribbean Region

  • Matthew Perks

    New Energy Events
    CEO Moderator

10:30-10:35

Keynote remarks by Hon. Daryl Vaz, Minister of Science, Energy and Technology, Jamaica

  • Hon. Daryl Vaz

    Government of Jamaica
    Minister of Science, Energy and Technology

10:35-11:20

Jamaica

Island Spotlight

Jamaican experts discuss the outlook for the next phase of renewables procurement.

  • What is the vision for the future trajectory of the Jamaican energy sector?
  • When can we expect the next phase of procurement in Jamaica?
  • What is the right mix of LNG and renewables to support a sustainable grid?
  • What are the expectations for the Integrated Resource Plan in terms of energy prices and reliability?
  • What deliverables are required from the government and private sector to achieve these goals?

  • Sean Hinds

    Radiant Energy Ltd
    Director

  • Lennox Elvy

    Generation Procurement Entity, Jamaica
    Chairman

  • Rick Case

    Jamaica Public Service Company Limited
    Director Engineering Services

  • Diane Edwards

    JAMPRO
    President Moderator

11:20-12:00

The EV Session at CREF 2021: Fast-Tracking Electrification In the Island Context

  • How can the Caribbean fast-track electrification of transportation?
  • How are global manufacturers supporting decarbonization of the transport sector in the region?
  • What plans are underway across islands to mainstream electric vehicles?
  • Can the Caribbean act as a model for the rest of the world in EV roll-out?

  • William Chernicoff

    Toyota Mobility Foundation
    Senior Manager Global Research & Innovation

  • Devon Gardner

    Caribbean Community Secretariat
    Programme Manager for Energy and Head of the Energy Unit

  • Hon. Walter Roban, JP, MP

    Government of Bermuda
    Deputy Premier and Minister of Home Affairs

  • Dionne Nugent

    Jamaica Public Service Company (JPS)
    Director, Business Development

  • Christina Becker-Birck

    Cadmus Group
    Vice President Moderator

12:00-12:15

Flash Networking

12:15-1:00

Developing Now: Project Planning in the Current Market Environment

Interactive Session

Market participants detail the challenges of project development and strategies for forward planning in the current market. Join us and tell us how your projects have been impacted – and what you need to move forward.

  • What shifts in the market have most impacted renewables developers and how are these trends evolving? How is the market responding?
  • How have pandemic-related limitations (e.g. supply chain) and labor force issues impacted project execution and cost? How are developers managing this situation?
  • How are developers and lenders looking at inflationary trends as they forward plan?
  • Managing an insurance minefield: Is it a bigger issue now than ever before?

  • Andre Escalante

    Energy Dynamics LAC Ltd.
    President

  • Bruce Levy

    BMR Energy
    CEO and President

  • Angella Rainford

    Soleco Energy | Rekamniar Frontier Ventures
    CEO

  • James Whittaker

    Greentech | Cayman RE Association
    Founder | President

  • Fernando Alvarado

    Deetken Impact Sustainable Energy
    CEO Moderator

1:00-1:45

Innovation in Clean Energy Financing: Launch of the Initiative on Eastern Caribbean Regional RE Financing Facility

Co-hosted by The World Bank | ESMAP

 

 

Island leaders, the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, and the World Bank present the newly announced initiative on the regional facility for concessional finance and outline expectations for its impact on clean energy financing in the Eastern Caribbean.    

  • How will the facility optimize concessional resources to leverage private capital and sustainable finance in the RE space?  
  • Perspectives on the facility and expectations of regional policy makers. 

  • Prime Minister Gaston Browne

    Antigua and Barbuda
    Prime Minister

  • Governor Timothy Antoine

    Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
    Governor

  • Dr. Kelvin George

    Ministry of Finance, Public Utilities, Energy, Physical & Economic Development, Grenada
    Director, Department of Economic and Technical Cooperation

  • Denis Boskovski

    The World Bank
    Sr. Country Officer for OECS countries Moderator

1:45-2:30

Utility Leaders on ‘Grappling with the 2020s’

Interactive Session

Caribbean utility leaders share their perspectives on drivers, trends and the outlook for Caribbean island grids. 

  • Have the economic challenges of the pandemic changed the way utilities think about their businesses?
  • With an uptick of distributed generation during the pandemic, how are utilities preparing for a continuation of this trend?
  • Can LNG and renewables successfully co-exist? What is the utility perspective on pros and cons of each, and what are the long-term implications of commitment to LNG on renewables development?
  • Has resilience in the utility space been redefined post-pandemic? How?

  • Sacha Tibbetts

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

  • Devon Cox

    FortisTCI
    Senior Vice President of Operations

  • David Gumbs

    RMI Islands Energy Program
    Director

2:30-3:00

A Gender Inclusive Renewable Energy Sector: How to Get Started

Co-Hosted by Deetken Impact Sustainable Energy 

The renewable energy sector, usually praised for its positive impact on the environment and fight against climate change, has not made nearly enough progress in terms of diversity and inclusion. Expanding women’s participation in the sector and engaging with women in community initiatives are essential to ensure sustainability, risk management, and business performance of energy companies and projects. Join us to learn how and why we need to examine and integrate a gender lens to renewable energy projects, in which we will discuss:

  • The outsized financial, social, and environmental returns from integrating a gender-sensitive, diverse and inclusive strategy.
  • Practical steps to incorporate gender considerations into the assessment of a company’s business practices and engagement with communities.
  • Real life examples from an impact investor supporting a project developer through tailored technical assistance and from a project developer herself.

  • Rachel Murphy

    Deetken Impact
    Gender and Sustainability Officer

  • Angella Rainford

    Soleco Energy | Rekamniar Frontier Ventures
    CEO

  • Magali Lamyin

    Deetken Impact
    Managing Director

Forks in the Road: Critical Decision Turning-Points for Energy Sector Leaders

Co-Hosted By BMR Energy



As clean technologies come online, and as islands weigh up the pros and cons of various sources of energy, island decision-makers are confronted with choices which will have long-term impacts on their national grids. Over the course of a deeply interactive session we will explore some of those choices as they relate to, for example, decisions on LNG as a bridge fuel, and commercially-proven vs. advanced – but not as yet deployed region-wide – technologies. Join our panel of experts and share your perspective on what are some of the most critical decisions of our generation.

  • Rick Case

    Jamaica Public Service Company Limited
    Director Engineering Services

  • Robert Blenker

    WRB Energy
    President and CEO

  • Bruce Levy

    BMR Energy
    CEO and President Moderator

3:00-3:30

A Win-Win: Making the Business & Use Case for Storage on Islands

Co-Hosted By SMA Solar Technology

On islands, the use of storage has long been touted as the means to efficient and resilient grids. Lacking to date, however, have been concrete use cases to prove the paradigm. On several jurisdictions now, however, we have successful examples of implementation. In this session we ask two such jurisdictions to take the stage to explore the business and use case of storage on island grids. What can we learn? And what does this portend for the future of storage in the Caribbean?

  • Jesus Martinez Cantu

    SMA America
    Business Development and Sales Manager

  • Fred Cuvalay

    STUCO
    CEO

Renewable Energy Auctions: Competitive Procurement for a Low-Carbon Future

Co-Hosted By Tetra Tech



Tetra Tech supported five RE auction rounds in Colombia and Mexico alone. Just these rounds totaled around 8.4GW of RE installed capacity and USD10.3 billion of investment mobilized. Tetra Tech will bring practitioners from Colombia and Mexico involved in these successful auctions together to share their experience in achieving price reduction, MWs of RE procured, and investment mobilized. Join us for real talk about what it takes to make RE auctions a staple for increasing RE uptake.

  • Jairo Gutierrez

    Tetra Tech
    RE Auctions Expert

  • Jeff Pavlovic

    Bravos Energia, Mexico
    Power Market Expert

  • Julian Rojas

    Ministry of Mines and Energy (MME), Colombia
    Director of the Regulatory Affairs Office

  • Scarlett Piantini Gil

    Tetra Tech
    LAC Senior Energy Expert Moderator

3:30-4:00

E-Mobility in the Caribbean – The Future is Electric

Co-Hosted by the UK Department of International Trade

Insights into regulatory framework considerations and the applicability of a toolkit to facilitate EV adoption in the Caribbean. 

  • Joscelyn Terrell

    Office of Zero Emission Vehicles
    Head of Stakeholder Engagement, International and Briefing

  • Shanna Emmanuel

    OECS
    Programme Officer, Environmental Sustainability Division

  • Curtis Boodoo

    CARICOM | University of Trinidad and Tobago
    Chairman for the Electric Vehicle Workgroup | Assistant Professor, Utilities Engineering Unit Moderator

4:00

Chairperson’s Closing Statements and Final Flash Networking

  • Gillian Charles-Gollop

    CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank
    Executive Director, Corporate Investment Banking and Advisory

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