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.
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.
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.
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.
CREF 15-Year Anniversary Cocktail and Networking Reception
CIBC FirstCaribbean International Bank Executive Director, Corporate Banking & Sustainable Finance
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?
Caribbean Climate Smart Accelerator Chief Executive Officer Moderator
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?
Inter-American Development Bank Executive Director for The Bahamas, Barbados, Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad and TobagoModerator
Thrive not Survive: Can Caribbean Utilities Rise to the Challenge?
Facing a volatile global fuel market, and the double demand of delivering on clean, reliable and affordable energy, how are utilities adapting to this new paradigm?
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 have utilities been impacted by some jurisdictions’ cap on fuel surcharge to consumers?
United States Department of State Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs
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.
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?
K&M Advisors Managing Director, Policy and RegulationModerator
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?
Nu Energy Consulting Group LLC CEO and PrincipalModerator
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.
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?
RBC Financial Caribbean Limited | RBC Caribbean CEO | Regional Vice President Corporate and Investment BankingModerator
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?
Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) Director of the Projects DepartmentModerator
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
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.
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?