Instructor in Automotive Engineering at the Samuel Jackman Prescod Institute of Technology (SJPI), Wayne Maycock speaking to a patron at a booth about the hybrid engine displayed.
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cap: Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Wilfred Abrahams (left) in conversation with Chief of Operations of the Inter-American Development Bank Barbados Country Office, Francisco Javier Urra (centre) and Resident Representative of the UNDP Barbados and the OECS, Magdy Martinez-Soliman.
New tech to help power the nation crucial
Minister of Energy and Water Resources, Wilfred Abrahams says Barbados cannot continue to rely on one source to supply this country with electricity.
He stated that new technologies which focus on generating power through renewable energy must be embraced.
“The Ministry is doing all it can, and the government is committed to the path of 100 percent renewables by 2030. Implicit in that, is the development of distributed generation of electricity. We have to move away from the monopoly system we have where there is one utility that generates a 100 percent of the electricity in Barbados. We have to embrace new technologies like wind and ocean energy and biogas and biomass and waste to energy because for us to get to a 100 percent renewable energy by 2030, we cannot do it by sitting in the box and trying to think how can we play with the things we have now to make it work.”
He added, “we have to start creating things for ourselves and we have to mold Barbados into what works for us. A 100 percent renewable energy or carbon neutrality by 2030 is not just a vision of the Ministry and a vision of the government, it is a necessity and a must do for the people of Barbados.”
His comments came while speaking during the opening ceremony of the 2019 Energy Expo at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre yesterday. This event was attended by students from secondary schools across the island.
Speaking directly to them, Abraham challenged the students to dream big dreams and not to limit themselves or their abilities to the technologies and items they saw on display. He called on them to be innovative and play their role in combating climate change.
“It is up to us now and you to act responsibly and to play your part in arresting climate change. We are at a certain point, but I believe it still can be stopped and reversed but you need to have safe practices, you need to conserve electricity. You need to be thinking of innovative ways to make this world better and to help the government, the country and the people of Barbados reach 100 percent renewable energy generation by 2030.”(MG