The technical potential for renewable energy development of small Caribbean island nations could reach 1.62GW, according to a report released by the Organisation of American States’ sustainable development department. The most common generation technology currently used in the Caribbean is medium to low speed internal combustion engines that run on diesel or heavy fuel oil.
The bulk of the renewables potential comes from Antigua and Barbuda with 427 MW (400 MW wind, 27 MW solar), says the Caribbean energy policy and sector analysis.
Another 392 MW are in Dominica (300 MW geothermal, 4 5MW solar, 30 MW wind, 1 7MW hydro), 331 MW in St Kitts and Nevis (300 MW geothermal, 16 MW solar, 10 MW biomass, 5 MW wind), 246 MW in St Lucia (170 MW geothermal, 40 MW wind, 36 MW solar, 0.2 MW hydro), 145 MW in St Vincent and the Grenadines (100 MW geothermal, 23 MW solar, 10 MW hydro, 8 MW wind, 4 MW biomass), 73 MW in the Bahamas (58 MW solar, 15 MW wind) and 5.5 MW in Grenada (5 MW wind, 0.5 MW hydro).
“The Caribbean region has geographical and geological features that lead to unique opportunities for renewable energy technology implementation,” comments the study.
