The landmark collaboration reaffirms BIDC’s commitment to innovating around clean technology solutions from the Blue Economy of Barbados. Barbados has set ambitious goals to achieve diversification of its energy mix and a reduction in the reliance on heavy fuels imported into the island for energy production. Through collaborations such as this, it is without a doubt that the island’s target of becoming a carbon-neutral state by 2030 will become a reality, and OTEC can play a vital role in this plan, not only in Barbados but also in neighboring Caribbean territories.
Through the MoU, both parties will collaborate on technical assessments, stakeholder engagement, and the evaluation of suitable locations for the technology implementation. OTEC can change the island’s industrial development and clean technology landscape, bringing sustainable, climate-smart baseload power 24/7 to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), being a viable solution to the current diesel generators that provide electricity to over 282,000 Barbadians. Using the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep water to provide continuous electricity, OTEC is well suited for the country, given the shelf on its eastern coast.
“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. The volatility of global energy markets due to geopolitical conflict and logistical challenges leaves the economies of SIDS vulnerable. Equally, when we consider climate change, it’s clear that 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 manufacturing and commodity export portfolio,” stated BIDC Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mark Hill.
The MoU follows a growing interest in ocean-based climate solutions among SIDS, which face increasing pressure to enhance energy security and reduce carbon emissions. 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. BIDC’s green hydrogen targets can also be assisted by Global OTEC’s technological solution.
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.
Barbados has previously expressed interest in OTEC, as last year Global OTEC presented its projects in a roundtable at the Export Barbados (BIDC) headquarters. “Barbados continues to lead by example in the global blue economy. This MoU builds on our longstanding engagement with the country and signals our commitment to making Barbados the launchpad for a Caribbean cluster of ocean thermal projects. We can unlock clean, reliable power from the ocean, and Barbados is showing the region how it can be a lighthouse for the region,” emphasized Global OTEC Founder and CEO Dan Grech.
