Wednesday, April 26, 2023 – Pre-CREF

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.

We’re seeing nascent signs of H2 across the Caribbean, including projects in Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados. But, hype aside, does Hydrogen have the potential to be a regional game-changer? What are the Caribbean’s competitive advantages? How will we produce H2 and at what cost? Is there a regional market for Caribbean H2 and what infrastructure do we need to store and distribute it? What is the price tag and who will pick it up?

Ultimately: can we build a decarbonizing, economy-lifting, competitiveness-driving industry for the region?

Participants will include Caribbean policy-makers, utility CEOs, development banks, and leading H2 industry experts and investors.

How to Register

H2-Caribbean will take place before the CREF main event at the JW Marriott Marquis on April 26 from 2:00 pm – 6:15 pm. It is an optional, additional registration item. It is complimentary for all senior Caribbean government officials who should contact us to receive a code to apply to the online registration for 2023. For all other attendees, the incremental fee to attend H2-Caribbean is $475. You will be provided with the option to register for it when you register for CREF.

Sponsors

 

Co-Host                                                            
Premier Sponsor                                                             
Sponsor                                                                     

 

 

Sponsor H2-Caribbean

To learn more, please contact Ioana Marins, Global Business Development Manager – Hydrogen, at imarins@newenergyevents.com

Agenda

H2-Caribbean is conceived as a vital conversation between regional stakeholders and hydrogen industry leaders to explore the viability of a hydrogen economy in the Caribbean. Adopting a roundtable format, and with discussion leaders introducing each element of the Summit, all participants will be invited to provide their perspective. 

You are invited to join us and contribute to a critical discussion which will shape the national and regional approach to the production and use of hydrogen in the Caribbean.

2:00 pm – Opening Remarks 

Francisca Salas, Hydrogen Program Director, New Energy Events

2:05 pm – Stage Setter: What is the Current Status of the Hydrogen Industry in the Caribbean?

Chris Straughn, Sustainable Energy Specialist, Caribbean Development Bank

2:15 pm – Beyond the Hype: What is the Future of Hydrogen in the Caribbean?

Is green hydrogen the key to a clean and competitive future for the Caribbean? In an open discussion between regional leaders, we’ll endeavor to separate fact from fiction, triage the opportunities, the hurdles, and then explore economic and feasible next steps. 

  • What makes the Caribbean unique as a potential hydrogen producer? Does the region have a competitive advantage? How can that advantage be leveraged?
  • Is a self-sustaining Caribbean hydrogen “hub” – producing and using in-region – a viable objective?
  • Which countries are best-placed and what is the timeframe?
  • What are the potential uses of hydrogen in the Caribbean?
  • Is hydrogen a possible global export commodity for the Caribbean? Can we build a viable business case for market development?

Hon. Francine Baron, CEO, Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica (CREAD)

Nigel Burgess, Head of Regulation, Regulatory Authority of Bermuda

Hon. Lisa Cummins, Minister of Energy and Business, Government of Barbados

Vernon Paltoo, President, National Energy Corporation of Trinidad and Tobago

Chris Straughn, Sustainable Energy Specialist, Caribbean Development Bank, moderator 

3:15 pm – Coffee and Networking Break

3:30 pm – Signing of FWA between the Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica, Kenesjay Green Limited (KGL) and Dominica Geothermal Development Company (DGDC)

The Government of the Commonwealth of Dominica will sign a Framework Agreement with the Dominica Geothermal Development Company and Kenesjay Green Dominica Limited. Its goal is to develop the first large-scale green hydrogen geothermal development in the Caribbean.

4:00 pm – The Market: Production and Applications of H2 in the Caribbean

For the Caribbean to establish itself as a consumer and/or exporter of H2 it will need to answer questions about production, distribution and applications – at a national level, and then intra-regionally and internationally. 

  • What infrastructure would we need to develop a successful domestic and export market for Caribbean H2?
  • Is that infrastructure different for international distribution vs. intra-regional?
  • Where is the competition and what do we need to know about relative pricing/economics?
  • When the region is battling to transition its electric grids to renewables, is it feasible to contemplate a renewable surplus to produce H2? Does it strengthen the case for geothermal?
  • Who will underwrite the development of a world-leading H2 industry in the Caribbean?
  • How are governments, and development banks supporting the Hydrogen industry? Will they prioritize production or demand-side (uses)?
  • What investors should we seek and what will they want to see?
  • How do financiers understand the risks associated with H2 projects – and how can we mitigate them?

Martin Georgiev, Senior Consultant, Ricardo Energy and Environments

Félix Gorintin, COO, Farwind Energy

Silvio Heimann, CEO, Cavendish SA (Grupo Purdy)

Philip Julien, Founder and Chairman, Kenesjay Green Limited

Thibault Ménage, Vice President – Caribbean, HDF Energy

Milaika Capella Ras, General Manager, Caribbean Shipping Association (CSA), moderator

5:00 pm – Building Key Partnerships for Solutions and Action

Regional and international partnerships will be critical to the successful roll-out of hydrogen in the Caribbean.

  • What programs and funding currently exist for the Caribbean public and private sector projects? 
  • What would a coordinated initiative look like, e.g. combined funding programs, and how would we ensure their success, and that they respond directly to national needs?
  • How can we streamline and coordinate critical partnerships?
  • What are the desired outcomes and what are the next steps?

Devon Gardner, Head of Technical Programmes, CCREEE

Stephanie Gil, Practice Manager, Energy and Extractives, Latin American and the Caribbean, The World Bank

Christiaan Gischler, Lead Energy Specialist, Inter-American Development Bank

Antonio H. Pinheiro Silveira, Manager of Physical Infrastructure and Digital Transformation, CAF

Joseph Williams, Coordinator, Sustainable Energy Unit, Caribbean Development Bank

Racquel Moses, CEO, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator, moderator

6:00 pm – H2Caribbean Close