Enill bats for renewable energy industry
PORT SPAIN
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
Petroleumworldtt.com
04 10 09
Energy Minister, Conrad Enill, has said that the changed economic situation and lower demand for oil and gas made it an appropriate time to consider the development of renewable energy as an alternative to fossil fuels. He made the statement in a speech on Monday night at the launch of the 2009 Society of Tribologists and Lubrication Engineers (STLE) Conference. The theme of the three-day conference, being held at Cara Suites hotel, Claxton Bay, is Energy supporting energy—An alternative to fossil fuels. Enill spoke on the subject, Combating the economic challenge-Alternatives to oil and gas within the Caribbean region.
He said the Government believed “that T&T has tremendous opportunities for the development of renewable sources of energy.” He said tremendous potential also existed for the development of a renewable energy products industry in T&T which could create opportunities for employment, domestic utilisation and export of products. However, he said “alternatives to crude oil and natural gas for power generation continue to challenge all of us.” He said that while electricity can be successfully extracted from various sources of renewable energy such as wind, solar, ocean currents, geo-thermal and hydro- electric power, only ocean currents, geo-thermal and hydro-electric power are able to provide an ample, continuous supply of electricity.
He added that while ocean currents and geo-thermal energy hold great promise as providers of electricity in the future, scientists are still experimenting with ways of safely harnessing their power. Businessman, Arthur Lok Jack, received STLE's Individual of the Year award as well as the company award on behalf of Neal and Massy Wood Group Limited.
Two young engineers, Christian Jarvis and Joel Edwards, were named to represent the University of the West Indies and STLE at a young engineer's forum in Orlando, Florida, in May.Director of Business Development at UWI, Dr David Rampersad, said that as a regional institution, UWI was conscious of the need to look at alternatives to existing systems as well as other potential sources of energy.
He said UWI was working with its partners in the region and overseas to introduce postgraduate programmes and initiate research, “that will ensure we approach the economic and long term challenges of adjustment with sound knowledge and relevant, up-to-date expertise.” Enill said that the Renewable Energy Committee which was launched in February 2009, will produce a Green Paper for public discussion, from which a White Paper would emerge to guide policy for such development. He said that simultaneously there would be opportunities for projects in solar water heating, wind energy and photovoltaics.
Story by
Yvonne Webb from Trinidad & Tobago
Guardian
Trinidad & Tobago Guardian
March 25, 2009
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