Sustaining T&T through renewable energy

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The case for renewable energy in Trinidad & Tobago can be made through solar and wind resources, abundant in the region. Acting alone, the 5,131 square kilometer island cannot have much impact in global emissions, but combined with other initiatives in the Caribbean, there is potential for the country to become a leader in energy generation.

T&T has been a leader in the energy sector for over a century, and although oil and gas are cheap and readily available, it may not be so for long. Fossil fuel resources are expected to deplete in the next 50 to 100 years.

The University of Trinidad & Tobago has set out to explore the options of solar and wave energy, buoyed by a 2013 MOU signed between the government of T&T and the U.S. Department of Energy.  The agreement began work on the Caribbean’s Regional Renewable Energy Centre and UTT is part of the initiative, housing a US$1 million solar plant at its campus in Point Lisas. UTT’s Energy Institute has proposed to launch a wave dragon that would be used to determine the feasibility of tidal energy generated from regional coastal areas.

Neighboring Bonaire has switched to 100% wind power and the countries of Barbados, St. Vincent, and Cuba are on track to meet a 60% renewables generation target by 2020. Considering that global investment into renewable energy increased to US$286 billion, with 147 GW of renewable electricity coming online, in 2015, Trinidad & Tobago should consider its options as a current and future leader of energy in the Caribbean and globally.

Read more here:
http://www.trinidadexpress.com/20161017/editorial/sustaining-tt-through-renewable-energy