conference magazine - Caribbean Environmental Health Institute

concerns of global warming. Alternative sources of energy are
the major appropriate technologies and systems to respond to
climate change. On the promises of these sources depends the
much sought after global agreement to reduce GHG emissions to
levels such that temperature rises would be limited to 1.5°C
above pre-industrial levels. But these sources must compete
economically with fossil fuel if the requisite investments are to be
made in good time. The economic feasibility of two of the more
readily available renewable energy sources, wind and photovoltaics,
applied on a domestic scale to the situation in Jamaica will
be explored. The methodology will involve the comparison of the
present cost of producing energy using renewable energy
sources compared with the cost of fossil fuel energy over the
lifetime of the renewable energy source in terms of constant dollars.
In areas of strong wind regimes, the use of wind is shown to
be more economical than fossil fuel and photovoltaics. The prospects
for photovoltaics are much improved when net metering is
allowed.
Trading Carbon Offsets - A Caribbean Tale by Chinyere
Nwaogwugwu
Carbon Trading is a relatively new instrument that can be used to
encourage clean technologies in developing countries. Originating
out of the determination to mitigate climate change world
wide, the instrument has become a driving force for renewable
energy development, design and usage. Developing nations
such as India, Brazil and China are developing carbon emission
offset projects in great numbers. This industry development has
been a boon for these countries. However, currently, there are
very few Caribbean entities involved in the field although those
that have pioneered the instrument have met largely with success.
The paper will begin with the history of carbon trading to present
and will include the many ways that interested organizations can
use the facility. The paper will highlight those in the Caribbean
that have participated in the trading of carbon offsets and provide
details on the projects developed and the mechanisms used. The
challenges as well as the potential benefits for developers will be
highlighted as well as the projects with the strongest potential in
the Caribbean would be analyzed and discussed. A vision of a
Caribbean that is clean and green driving core industries such as
tourism and agriculture with carbon offset capital would also be
outlined. Carbon trading has tremendous possibilities for the
Caribbean and can be the catalyst to reduce fossil fuel consumption
and drive renewable energy and energy efficient technologies
in the region. Although there are few Caribbean organizations
involved in carbon trading, lessons have been learned that
can be shared to develop the industry for a sustainable future.
Building a Local Solar Panel: Issues and Experiences by
Anthony Coleman, Rayon Smith and Darron Fraser
One of the constraints of the wide scale implementation of solar
systems is its set up cost. Two of the most costly components of
a solar system are the solar panels and the batteries. Presently
the cost of a 50 watt panel is approximately US$400 without the
cost of shipping and other duties. The cost of the panels for domestic
use can run into thousands of dollars.
The project pursued looks at the experience of assembling a 50 watt
panel locally, using imported solar cells and other local material. It
documents the problems and success achieved with assembling
such a panel. The behavior of the local panel, when compared with
an imported panel under similar conditions, shows similar performance.
The behaviour, at different temperatures and different levels of
solar insolation, is the same for both panels. The panel is much
cheaper than imported version. The assembly of the local panel
costs 40% of the cost of the imported version. The assembly of a
panel is relatively simple for persons with electrical knowledge and
can form the basis of a local industry
A Cost Analysis of Photovoltaic Technologies under Jamaica’s
Climatic Conditions by Darlene Field and Claude McNamarah
Since the oil price spike of 2008, at least ten of the governments
within the Commonwealth Caribbean have drafted new energy plans
and policies to increase the percentage of renewable energy within
their countries’ energy mix and help reduce their dependence on
imported fossil fuels. Because of the relatively high irradiance of the
region it is generally hoped that photovoltaic technologies will be
able to make a significant contribution to reducing electricity costs.
But that can only be realised when photovoltaics have at least met
grid parity.
Manufacturers are implementing various techniques and materials to
reduce the price per kilowatt-hour delivered from photovoltaics.
However their quoted specifications are that of performance parameters
measured under STC of 25 o C, 1.5 Air Mass and irradiance of
1000W/m 2 . These conditions are not realised during operation of the
modules and since efficiency is known to be especially susceptible
to increased temperatures, the energy delivered from a module must
be measured under local conditions to determine proximity to grid
parity.
We measured the energy delivered from eight PV technologies under
conditions in Jamaica. The modules were mounted south facing
with elevation equal to the latitude (18 o ) and data of voltage, insolation,
back of module temperature and ambient temperature were
measured over a 4 month period. Interpolating into historic data was
used to determine the amount of energy each module would deliver
given the climatic condition over an entire year. Hence the technology
that performed best i.e. the one with lowest price per delivered
kilowatt-hour was determined. The proximity to grid parity, with reasonable
cost estimates of the balance of the system included, was
ascertained. Several scenarios for obtaining grid parity and hence
making it cost effective for the Jamaican consumer to invest in PV
were created. Payback times were determined in each case.
More than Dollars and Cents: Why Renewable Energy has been
Slow to Take-off in the Caribbean by David Ince and Harrie Vredenburg
Renewable energy which includes solar, wind, hydro and geothermalhas
for many years been considered as part of the answer to the
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FIFTH BIENNIAL CARIBBEAN ENVIRONMENTAL FORUM AND EXHIBITION