Updates

May 2009
UNDP and CEIS are partnering to conduct a survey to assess the impact of energy intenventions in the last decade on the security and sustainability of the region's energy sector. At present 9 countries are being targeted. The results will be used to produce a final report which identifies remaining gaps and barriers to sustainable energy in the Caribbean, and provide recommendations for focusing future programmes.

UNDP has provided support to CREDP and CEIS to conduct the "Training transfer of energy information to teachers of energy in CXC/CAPE examinations and Teacher Training Colleges" workshop in Grenada from 29-30 May. It will involve energy efficiency and conservation, alternative sources, and surrounding environmental issues.

Apr 2009
The second training workshop and global launch of the Caribbean Information Portal on Renewable Energy (CIPORE) took place in Kingston, Jamaica at the Scientific Research Council (SRC). CEIS hosted the event, with the official launch presided by Prof the Hon Anthony Chen, Nobel Laureate, of the University of the West Indies Mona Campus.

UNDP and the Caribbean Youth Environment Network (CYEN) are partnering to convene national workshops on energy and sustainable development. These fora will be held in Antigua and Barbuda, Barbados, the British Virgin Islands, St. Lucia, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines. The sessions will target the major sectors in each country and the electric utility and encourage participants to share on their efforts at increasing energy security and sustainability. Discussions will also surround climate change, further measures that can be taken to increase the penetration of renewable energy, and the MDGs. These workshops will form part of the Earth Day celebrations in these countries.

Mar 2009
A very successful training workshop was hosted by CARILEC and UNDP on photovoltaic (PV) technologies. This was held at St. Vincent Electricity Services Ltd (VINLEC), and attended by over 20 electrical engineers and technicians from St. Vincent and St. Maarten. The facilitator was Dr. Indra Haraksingh, a senior physics lecturer at the University of the West Indies (UWI), St. Augustine Campus. Though brief, the 2-day seminar delved into areas such as basics of solar energy; mechanics of PV systems; design and installation; grid-connected, stand alone and hybrid systems; and various applications of PV.

Feb 2009
A renewable energy and ICT workshop relating to the Caribbean Information Platform for Renewable Energy (CIPORE) was hosted by CEIS. The training has enabled the nationally appointed Node Administrators to upload and manage national data on the platform. The platform's key functions and features include:

• Information Centre - projects database, statistics, articles, energy calculators, reports
• Communications Centre - directory, discussion forum, chatroom
• Demonstration Centre - photo and video galleries, virtual tours
• News and Events

Currently CIPORE is in its testing and maintenance phase. There will be a follow up workshop and official launch in April.

Jan 2009
Agreement has been reached with the CCCCC on the capacity building activities to be engaged in. These include:

• Information dissemination and management through a renewable energy platform
• Micro-grid generation and grid connection, focusing on PV systems
• Training for CXC and CAPE science teachers in OECS countries on renewable energy (training for teachers in Barbados was conducted in 2008)

• There is a general lack of consistent time series data available. Some countries have only recently started collecting data in some areas e.g. waste generation.
• Where data exists there is often difficulty accessing it due to reluctance to share information. This is experienced in both the private and public sectors.
• Variations occur in the methods of data collection and reporting. This makes compilation and comparison of datasets arduous.