28 May 2012: Representatives from Caribbean Community (CARICOM) member States attended a training workshop focused on renewable energy technologies appropriate for the Caribbean island State context, particularly solar cooling and heating systems, photovoltaics and wind energy.

The Sustainable Alternatives for Tropical Island States 2012 (SATIS 2012) workshop took place from 9-11 May 2012, in Bridgetown, Barbados. The event was hosted by the Caribbean Solar Energy Society (CSES) with support from the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), the CARICOM Secretariat and the Organization of American States (OAS).

The workshop’s 30 participants heard opening remarks from CARICOM and OAS representatives, who stressed commitments to supporting capacity building and development of renewable energy in the Caribbean. Amb. Joaquin de Arístegui LaBorde, Spain’s Ambassador to CARICOM, underscored his country’s experience in tackling the cost-effectiveness, technological, and public awareness and acceptance challenges of developing renewable energy technologies. Senator Darcy Boyce, Barbadian Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with Responsibility for Energy, discussed Barbados’ commitment to achieve a 30% share for renewables in the national energy mix within 30 years primarily by converting waste-to-energy, and installing solar and wind systems. He descibed other domestic efforts to increase energy efficiency and promote the deployment of renewables.

The first day of the workshop dealt with solar thermal energy. On the second day, participants divided into parallel sessions on photovoltaics and wind energy, exploring the potential for each in the region, technologies currently in use or available, and their future prospects. The third day focused on solar cooling. The workshop also featured a field trip to one of Barbados’ photovoltaics installation at the state-owned National Oil Company. [CARICOM Press Release]