The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries

COUNTRY INDICATOR ANALYSIS

4.5.6 | CONSTRUCTION

It is widely accepted that the best time to consider RE and EE is in the planning stage. This phase of the construction cycle is also important because buildings are responsible for 40% of energy consumed in the commercial sector. For most of the region retrofits represent most of the EE interventions and usually come at a higher cost than if the action was taken during construction. While not well articulated in policies, governments with international agencies involved in rebuilding from the many natural disasters in the Caribbean have often opted to build smarter, more environmentally friendly and more energy efficient. While this is good, it has been ad hoc and still requires the requisite policy support. This would require architects and engineers to involve energy management experts when designing and renovating buildings, to incorporate energy efficient principles into the selection of lights, cooling systems, building materials and construction methodologies. In order to strengthen the linkages, it will be necessary to:

• Promote Green Buildings. • Provide standards for buildings and construction such as LEED. • Implement the Energy Efficiency Building Code (EEBC).

4.5.7 | WASTE MANAGEMENT

The waste management sector has been one of concerns for many small developing states. Disposal is easy to do using landfills, but its sustainability is a challenge in terms of the practicality of continuing the old methods given the environmental impact of accumulating waste materials such as non-biodegradable plastics. Alternative ways of waste disposal, including incineration, have been considered. Bagasse has been a waste product for decades but is now being used to generate electricity. Guyana generates 60GWh a year for the grid and has potential for twice as much. Belize generates 135 GWh a year from biomass with the potential to increase that by 10% with minimal investment based on a recent feasibility (5Cs, 2019). Current technologies present a fortuitous opportunity to solve the problem with great benefits; converting waste to energy. Even though the WtE technology is well established, its viability has often been a concern. Relatively speaking we generate lots of garbage but technically it may not be enough from a single country in most cases. Proper studies on this sector are still required but energy generation opportunities exist in:

• Combustion of biomass (bagasse, wood chips, sawdust and dried grass) • Effective waste separation system to produce safe combustible waste

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The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries