The British Virgin Islands is among six Caribbean countries and overseas territories that will benefit from an 18-month project led by the Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation (CARILEC) which is designed to build energy resilience while reducing the territory’s climate vulnerability.
The other five countries and overseas territories include Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Sint Maarten, Montserrat and Turks and Caicos Islands.
The project entitled the CARILEC Resiliency and Energy Efficiency Project (CAREEP) is being funded by the Caribbean Overseas Countries and Territories (OCTs) Resilience, Sustainable Energy and Marine Biodiversity Programme (RESEMBID) to the tune of €467,715 ($476,916.82).
“The project specifically targets energy affordability for residential customers. It focuses on low-income households, as well as Electric Utilities, Energy Service providers and out-of-work professionals formerly employed within the tourism sector,” CARILEC stated in a media statement.
It added, “The Project aims include mainstreaming energy conservation measures and technologies, as well as building capacities for new and innovative energy services, by diversifying the skills of the local workforce. This will be coupled with efforts to create new business opportunities around sustainable and innovative energy services.”
According to CARILEC, the project commenced in January this year and will involve several interventions in the six overseas countries’ territories (OCTs).
“These include the implementation of a regional public education and awareness programme centred on household energy conservation measures, as well as online trainings for professionals on the provision of new sustainable energy services. An e-learning platform, developed and operated under the Project, will train and guide Caribbean households to conduct energy self-audits and to reduce their monthly electricity bill,” CARILEC stated.
“Alongside representatives from CARILEC Member utilities, RESEMBID and government technical focal points the project aims to develop a set of policy recommendations to establish enabling frameworks for sustainable energy services,” the entity further said.
RESEMBID Programme Director Fabian McKinnon spoke on the initiative.
He said, “The availability of predictably priced electricity is crucial as it facilitates the reliable functioning of economic processes and improves the standard of living of consumers. CAREEP is therefore pivotal at this time, considering the region’s vulnerability towards climate change and its significant untapped potential for renewable energy and energy efficiency. RESEMBID is proud to support and work with CARILEC to achieve these critical project aims.”
The project is being facilitated by CARILEC Project Managers Thomas Mitschke and Alana Raymond.
CARILEC experts will also be supported by RESEMBID Programme Manager Nnyeka Prescod and external specialists during the implementation.