Launch – Ocean Thermal Vitality Conversion (OTEC) is gaining extra traction within the Caribbean area. Following conferences held final yr with the Turks and Caicos Islands and Grenada governments, Barbados is now beginning to discover OTEC for its renewable power transition. In a roundtable on the Export Barbados (BIDC) headquarters final week, World OTEC introduced its know-how and present tasks, highlighting the potential for baseload clear power from the ocean to energy the nation, lowering carbon emissions and era prices, alongside the co-benefits reminiscent of desalination, aquaculture, and inexperienced gasoline manufacturing.
Along with the 1.5MW floating OTEC platform Dominique, which might be put in in São Tomé and Príncipe, Africa, the corporate highlighted the developments underneath PLOTEC. This EU-funded undertaking is making a storm-resistant OTEC construction. The prototype is underneath building and can quickly be deployed within the Atlantic Ocean for testing. The undertaking will enhance OTEC’s accessibility in weather-prone areas just like the Caribbean.
Throughout the assembly, OTEC’s capability to ship 24/7 baseload energy, with a formidable capability issue, was emphasised. MetOcean evaluation for Barbados was introduced, testifying to OTEC’s suitability for the nation and the broader area. “Forward of our set up of a tropical storm-resistant OTEC construction, we’re getting ready a pipeline of bankable OTEC tasks within the Caribbean area”, explains World OTEC Founder and CEO Dan Grech.
The Barbados Nationwide Vitality Coverage (BNEP) states that 100% of the island’s transformational targets for renewable power and carbon-neutral island-states might be achieved by 2030. An OTEC undertaking can complement the nation’s broader decarbonisation efforts via ocean and terrestrial applied sciences, aiding in reaching the goal within the subsequent six years. “Export Barbados (BIDC) continues to pioneer the event of Barbados’ Oceans Financial system via strategic partnerships. As a Massive Ocean State, Barbados should sustainably harness its Blue Financial system’s assets to make sure nationwide Vitality Safety by growing and implementing appropriate Ocean Vitality Know-how. Such modern ocean power applied sciences are key to attaining SDG 7 and aligning with the Paris Settlement because the island transitions away from fossil gasoline dependency in gentle of the impacts of local weather change. Because the Inez Oceans Unit continues to discover collaboration with World OTEC and the SIDS DOCK Initiative, Export Barbados (BIDC) additionally needs to thank the representatives from the Caribbean Growth Financial institution and Make investments Barbados for his or her valued contributions”, says the Advisor Undertaking Coordinator at INEZ Oceans Unit of Barbados Authorities, Damien Prescod.
OTEC: an excellent match for the Caribbean
The Caribbean is going through an power disaster, generally referred to as a “gasoline lure”. To flee this lure, the area wants renewable power applied sciences, contemplating its distinctive traits, reminiscent of restricted land area and vulnerability to tropical storms. As well as, there’s an pressing want to scale back electrical energy costs, that are at present round USD 0.25 per kWh on common, greater than double the common value in america. In some Caribbean nations, the costs can improve to over USD 0.40 per kWh.
These nations rely closely on fossil fuels, with greater than 90% of their electrical energy provide coming from this supply. The ensuing excessive and fluctuating prices have an effect on competitiveness and productiveness and perpetuate poverty. OTEC may also help the Caribbean overcome its power challenges, harnessing the facility of the ocean, the islands’ main pure useful resource, to ship clear and dependable energy whereas lowering diesel prices by as much as 50%.
