Renewable energy surge expected

Over the next 12 to 18 months the amount of energy produced within the renewable energy sector is expected to double.

 

That’s according to Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Energy and Telecommunications, Senator Darcy Boyce. He spoke to the projections as he noted that over the last year there has been a substantial increase in the generation capacity within the local renewable energy sector. He was addressing those attending a ceremony held on Friday morning at the Division of Energy and Telecommunications to launch the department’s 50th Anniversary of Independence magazine, dubbed ‘From Manjak to Microwave’.

 

His comments came as he said that the Energy Division has taken very seriously the mandate of making sure that Barbados is more resilient to the vagaries of the energy market, and this, he said, has been the force behind their efforts to push renewable energy. The goal, he explained, is to make sure that Barbados is more self reliant as it relates to its energy needs and supplies, and to bring down the cost of energy both to households and businesses.

 

“The work we have been doing in renewable energy seeks to reduce our carbon footprint… and so contributes a little bit to the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions. But importantly for us, to keep Barbados as a flagship – small country, small island developing state that has a moral responsibility or duty to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and trying to turn back some of the climate change effects that we have had. For us this is an existential matter and we intend to be out front in pushing that renewable energy agenda,” he said.

 

Acknowledging however that all our energy is not from renewable sources, the Minister said it is imperative that they also manage fossil fuel so that Barbadians get the best quality at the best price. Likewise, he said, they have to pay attention to the management of offshore energy resources as well.

 

“Our view has been that we will push to develop in Barbados a fully green economy when it comes to energy, even while we support the exploration of oil and gas offshore,” he said.

Minister Boyce said that the goal of that exercise is to build out reserves to help the country better deal with the vagaries of economic life and to transform parts of the economy which require it. (JRT)