CARILEC talks energy efficiency
St. Lucia Star
Written By: Star Reporter on Jul 17th, 2009
CARILEC (The Regional Electric Utility Association) has secured funding of approximately US$500,000 over a three-year period from the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) to undertake programs related to Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Initiatives on behalf of its utility members. The funding has been secured under the IDB’s Sustainable Energy and Climate Change Initiative (SECCI) program. The contract agreement for the funding was signed by both parties in June 2009.
From L to R: Nigel Hosein, Executive Director CARILEC, Marius St Rose Chairman of the Board of Directors LUCELEC, Prime Minister of St Lucia Stephenson King, Trevor Louisy, immediate past chairman of CARILEC & Managing Director of CARILEC at the CARILEC CEO conference held in St Lucia.
The Caribbean Electric Utility Service Corporation is a not for profit association currently consisting of 33 electric utilities within the Caribbean Region and approximately 60 Associate Members (who are suppliers, equipment manufacturers, consultants and other industry stakeholders). The association is mandated to utilize the grant to enhance and strengthen its capability to promote energy efficiency and renewable energy initiatives amongst its utility members.
In order to achieve this objective, CARILEC will use the funding to finance the following over the three year period: conduct annual performance benchmarking studies for its utility members; contract the services of a Renewable Energy Advisor to be the focal point within the Secretariat on renewable energy and energy efficiency matters; preparation of a Position Paper on Electric Utility Regulation in the Caribbean; the development of a prototype Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) for member utilities to utilize in encouraging private sector entities to develop their own renewable energy capabilities. The grant will also to be used for CARILEC to conduct training programs for capacity building of electric utility personnel in renewable energy, biofuels development and carbon trading markets. The training will also include developing utility members’ expertise in carrying out walk-through energy audits for customers to assist them with energy conservation to reduce electricity wastage.
Nigel Hosein; the Executive Director of CARILEC; who has been instrumental in sourcing the funding, says that he views the grant as a means for CARILEC to greatly assist the regional utilities with enhancing their renewable energy and energy efficiency programs in their efforts to provide reliable and affordable electricity for customers. He stated that the grant also comes at an opportune time where we are beginning to see in the past couple months an increase in oil prices (currently around US$70 per barrel from approximately US$30 per barrel at the beginning of the year). Therefore, the region needs to continue to aggressively pursue efforts to reduce our dependence on oil for electricity generation and look for alternative fuel sources while at the same time implementing energy efficiency and energy conservation programs.