The Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC) technology provider Global OTEC. The two will collaborate on technical assessments, stakeholder engagement, and the evaluation of suitable locations for the technology implementation.
OTEC harnesses the solar energy absorbed by the oceans that warms the surface water to vaporize a working fluid with a low boiling point, such as ammonia. The vapor expands and spins a turbine coupled to a generator to produce electricity. Then, using colder water from the deeper ocean, the vapor is cooled, condensing it back to a liquid so it can be reused. The method is especially effective on tropical islands that are warm enough to take advantage of the heat differential.
Barbados aims to be carbon neutral by 2030 and to diversify its energy mix and reduce reliance on the heavy fuels imported into the island for energy production. Small Island Developing States are particularly interested in ocean-based climate solutions since the ocean provides an almost untapped source of renewable energy that can be used with no harm to ocean ecosystems. Global OTEC’s modular approach to the technology is designed to integrate with island grids, offering a sustainable alternative to diesel generation and can provide energy redundancy to the grid after severe weather impacts from tropical storms.
“Small Island Developing States need to innovate in their industrial development thinking and their approach with regards to their energy security and sovereignty, manufacturing and processing, technical capacity development, scientific knowledge acquisition and technology transfer for future focused careers and sustainable economic growth,” said states BIDC Chief Executive Officer Mark Hill. “The volatility of global energy markets due to geo-political conflict and logistical challenges leave the economies of SIDS vulnerable, equally when we consider climate change, it’s clear that the business as usual will no longer be adequate for industrial and sustainable development in the global South, especially in the context of the blue economy. Greening our industrial estates through innovative technology will remain a key strategic objective at the Corporation, especially if the technology under consideration can positively impact of manufacturing and commodity export portfolio.”
Global OTEC is also leading the EU-funded project PLOTEC, which built and will test a floating storm-resistant structure for OTEC in weather-prone regions, such as the Caribbean. The advancements in design and materials will make ocean energy more resilient to tropical storms and severe climate conditions, leaving countries like Barbados less vulnerable to electricity outages, particularly when needed the most.
