Turks and Caicos Islands

(iv) adequate desalination capacity during power outages be ensured by equipping plants with
back-up power generators with a sufficient fuel supply, as recommended by (ECLAC, 2008) –
see below.
In addition, the implementation of measures to reduce flood risk are required. Infrastructure design should
be improved to increase resilience to heavy rain events (Climate Change Committee, 2011). Storm water
drainage capacity should be increased for susceptible areas such as South Caicos, after a full hydrological
study (ECLAC, 2008). The possibility to develop systems which are able to more efficiently capture storm
water runoff for use as a water resource should also be assessed. At risk facilities should be protected, such
as the causeway between Middle Caicos and North Caicos, which needs an increase in its culvert flow
capacity (ECLAC, 2008).
Increase capacity of water desalination facilities and investigate the feasibility of alternative water
generation technologies: Innovation in saltwater reverse osmosis desalination systems should be
encouraged and electrical and renewable power (solar energy) water generation capacity be expanded
(Byron, 2011). Investigate alternative water generation technologies such as atmospheric water generation
(water-from-air) systems (see Wahlgren, 2001 and Wahlgren, 2008) demonstrates the feasibility for waterproducing
greenhouses in Grand Turk, using seawater at 15°C drawn from around 500 m depth as a coolant
for dehumidification, able to generate about 200,000 litres per day with about half used for irrigation of
crops such as lettuce and strawberry and half able to be bottled for human consumption.
6.3. Energy Supply and Distribution
Consistent with the issues and future directions outlined in the Energy Conservation Policy and
Implementation Strategy for the Turks and Caicos Islands, the following section suggests some measures to
reduce energy consumption and emissions in tourism. The Government of the Turks and Caicos Islands and
other energy and tourism sector stakeholders such as the Provo Power Company, the Turks and Caicos
Utilities Ltd. and the Turks and Caicos Hotel and Tourism Association will inevitably play crucial roles in the
implementation of these measures.
Short Term Actions
Actively pursue and implement national action plans: Once national policy goals have been agreed, the
action plan to avoid energy use, increase efficiency, and to use a greater share of renewable energy sources
needs to be implemented. This plan outlined by Castalia (2011) outlines the combination of savings
potentials (energy management; cf. Gössling, 2010) and technological restructuring. Further to this, in
consideration and pursuit of establishing renewable energy operations, valuable information on the
potential of wind- and solar power can be found in Bishop and Amaratunga (2008), Chen et al. (1990), Chen
et al. (1994), and Headley (1998).
Medium Term Actions
Stabilise energy pricing to influence energy use and emissions: Taxes, emission trading and other
economic instruments are needed to steer energy use and emissions, conveying clear, long-term market
signals. It is important for these economic instruments to significantly increase the costs of fossil fuels and
emissions. Price levels also need to be progressive (increasing at a significant rate per year) and foreseeable
(be implemented over longer time periods), to allow companies to integrate energy costs in long-term
planning and decision-making.
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