BUSINESS MONDAY: 100 per cent renewable energy goal for B’dos by 2030

By 2030, Managing Director of Barbados Light and Power LTD, Roger Blackman, and the Government of Barbados hope to see the island completely depending on and using renewable energy.

His comment came during a signing ceremony, which took place at Government Headquarters recently.

“Indeed Barbados has the opportunity to become a leader for clean, energy transformation, grid modernisation and energy efficiency,” he said.

He revealed that persons at Light and Power planned to work with all stakeholders, including Government and investors such as the Inter-American Develop-ment Bank (IDB) and the European Commission, to find the right energy solutions for the island, as he believed it was sensible to meet “the challenge of energy change together.”

Sen. The. Hon. Darcy Boyce, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Energy, Telecommunications, Immigration and Invest in Barbados was pleased with the fact that Light and Power reached a wonderful point in committing to having 100 per cent renewable energy through the years.

He assured that while the initiative was to move to 100 per cent renewable energy and reduce the electricity consumption, they planned to do so without reducing the benefits of electricity and maintain the same level of performance all around the country.

Blackman noted that they were looking forward to increasing the number of persons who played in the renewable sector industry as the only way to be able to achieve 100 per cent renewable energy was to network.

Boyce explained that they planned to embrace more persons in the energy sector. He explained that by extending the licenses of persons who produce energy, they were attempting to democratise the generation of power so that more persons would get the chance to participate in this initiative. He announced that it was his wish to be able to report an increase for renewable energy, solar and wind, by the end of the year.

He revealed that upon completion of the signing ceremony, he was expecting to go into a meeting the IDB to discuss another loan for a project which would push the renewable energy sector and energy efficiency sector further along the path of development. (CLF)