By: Racquel Moses, Chief Executive Officer, Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator
Fresh off the heels of the H2 Caribbean Conference, a gathering of energy leaders, development partners, and regional policymakers, one thing is abundantly clear: the Caribbean is standing at the edge of a green revolution. If we have the collective courage to act, green hydrogen could become not just a clean energy source but a strategic pillar of economic resilience and export potential for the region.
It was an honour to offer closing remarks at the event, and what struck me most was the unified tone. Throughout the sessions, a consistent theme emerged: the Caribbean has both the components and conviction to capitalise on green hydrogen. What remains is the coordination, and the will, to translate vision into action.
A Moment of Regional Alignment
Collaboration, it seems, is the foundation on which this future must be built. And the work has already begun. The Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE), and the Caribbean Climate-Smart Accelerator (CCSA), with deep support from the InterAmerican Development Bank and RTI have in the last two years co-convened a quarterly Development Partners Working Group meeting aimed at avoiding duplication and maximising additive value. This is not and has not been business as usual, this is strategic orchestration.
Many of the development partners are playing key roles in the energy transition, funding studies, exploration, demonstration projects, renewable energy export viability and geothermal development in the Caribbean. These multilaterals are helping to shape a framework in which hydrogen in the English speaking Caribbean doesn’t remain theoretical but becomes operational.
Why Trinidad & Tobago Is Ground Zero
Unsurprisingly, Trinidad and Tobago, home to the region’s hydrocarbon legacy, is a logical starting point. The country had a historical peak consumption of over 2 million tonnes per year of hydrogen derived from natural gas, and currently has a hydrogen deficit of 500,000 tonnes of hydrogen annually, due to declining natural gas supply. Remarkably, as noted by an executive from HDF Energy, Trinidad’s peak hydrogen demand is nearly twice the hydrogen demand of France!
That alone should be a headline. But the story goes deeper.
The Caribbean’s strategic position also makes it a prime refuelling candidate for the cruise shipping industry, a multi-billion-dollar sector with heavy carbon intensity. Imagine a scenario where Caribbean green hydrogen powers cruise liners. This is no longer fiction, but a feasible future.
Still, we face the same obstacle as every emerging hydrogen market: cost. Current production costs for green hydrogen hover between $4–$12 per kilogram, significantly higher than grey hydrogen, which can cost as little as $1–$2 per kilogram. Without scale, parity is elusive. But with strategic alignment, we can build a pathway.
Niche Markets and First Movers
There was an interesting recommendation for the Caribbean to “find its niche.” Early adopters globally are succeeding by integrating hydrogen into specific verticals, think green steel in Europe or ammonia in Japan. For us, opportunities could lie in low-volume, high-visibility applications that attract investment and prove feasibility.
We must choose at least one demonstration project, within the English-speaking Caribbean, that serves as both prototype and proof of concept. Whether it’s powering ferries, retrofitting defunct oil rigs with wind turbines, industrial retrofitting, or utility-scale pilot plants, we need action that builds confidence and catalyses replication.
An Abundance of Resources, a Shortage of Time
The region has no shortage of natural assets. Wind, solar, hydro, geothermal, and even biomass abound. Countries like the Dominican Republic and Brazil have already demonstrated scalable clean energy models that the rest of the region can draw from.
In the Dominican Republic, for instance, IDB Invest provided a loan package of approximately $368 million to AES Dominicana Renewable Energy S.A. to finance the design, construction, and operation of new renewable energy projects totaling 240MW of installed capacity. (IDB Invest)
What we lack is integration, an inclusive green hydrogen roadmap for the region including all of the RE capacity that can contribute to this new industry.
Notwithstanding this incredible potential, we must be realistic about our vulnerabilities. The Caribbean’s fragility isn’t just environmental, it’s geopolitical. With shifting administrations and policy directions, it is difficult to identify the direction of our energy future. Yet, this also presents an opportunity. New governments bring new mandates, and hopefully fresh eyes. If properly informed, this could represent for them an opportunity to inspire swift action.
So What Must We Do?
The answer is equal parts simple and bold.
- Double down on collaboration. We must build deeper partnerships among regional institutions and international actors, ensuring that every dollar and data point is additive.
- Focus on cost. Achieving scale and price parity must be our top economic imperative.
- Lead by example. We should embrace internal decarbonisation efforts, not just as climate action, but as market preparation.
- Launch a lighthouse project. We need a tangible, visible initiative to convert rhetoric into reality.
Political will is not a mystical force, it is the cumulative result of citizen advocacy, informed voting, and strategic pressure. We are not observers of change; we are the agents of it.
As Caribbean citizens, technocrats, investors, and leaders, we must push beyond election cycles and commit to long-term infrastructure that serves both planet and people.
Now is the moment. Let’s make it count.
For further details on H2 Caribbean, the speakers or projects and studies mentioned, please refer to H2 Caribbean here.
