Renewable energy centre to be established in Barbados

A Caribbean centre for renewable energy and energy efficiency will be based in Barbados, the country’s Energy Minister Darcy Boyce announced.

During the meeting with Italy’s Special Envoy to the Caribbean, Paolo Serpi, Boyce told the Italian diplomat that the centre, which is expected to be inaugurated at the end of October, would ensure that CARICOM countries all had the same standards in respect of renewable energy and energy efficiency as well as similar technologies and the necessary legislation in place.

The Energy Minister revealed that the European Union and Austria in particular, had provided the funding for the first two years of operation but told the Italian Special Envoy that there might be a need for further financial assistance in the future, as the centre worked towards self-sufficiency, according to the Barbados Government Information Service (BGIS).

The centre will also ensure that there is no wastage of resources by coordinating donors and providing one place where technocrats can meet and make decisions about the way forward, BGIS’ press release reads.

Paolo Serpi said that Italy was interested in sharing experiences with the Caribbean in the field of renewable energy and climate change. He disclosed that Italy has been allocated funds by the European Union to support projects in the region and that he was very interested in hearing about the kind of projects that needed assistance.

To remind, in April this year, Darcy Boyce revealed that Barbados is conducting studies for the potential development of OTEC power plant that would increase the share of renewables to the country’s energy mix.

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Image: BGIS