Government envisions green energy for all of SVG in 10 years

It is envisaged that St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) will be entirely green in the delivery of energy within approximately 10 years.{{more}}

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves shared this vision for the future of SVG, as the addressed a town hall meeting at the Friends of Crown Heights Community Centre in Brooklyn, New York, last Saturday.

Gonsalves revealed that the Government of SVG is partnering with the Clinton Global Initiative; prominent Icelandic company, Reykjavik Geothermal; and Emera, a company from Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada, to exploit geothermal energy in SVG.

“The geothermal source which we have is an excellent source,” Gonsalves said.

“They are currently doing the mapping as to the extent of the source. The estimates range from 150 megawatts to in excess of 500 megawatts”.

The Prime Minister stated that this country will have the potential to export geothermal energy, since the peak demand here is currently 21 megawatts.

“If you take into account that our peak demand in St Vincent now is 21 megawatts, you will see that not only would we have geothermal energy for all time, but we’ll have enough to export to Barbados,” he said.

Within the first four years of exploitation, Gonsalves estimates that the country would have produced the first 10 megawatts of geothermal energy.

Additionally, when added to the energy that is produced by hydro-plants in St Vincent and the Grenadines, the Prime Minister noted that 15 megawatts, three-quarters of the country’s demand would have been produced.

“It means that after four years, you’re going to have 15 megawatts, three-quarters of your demand. Of course, the price is going to fall significantly, the price for fuel, which is a constraint on people in their home and also for hoteliers and investors to come,” Gonsalves declared.

The Prime Minister foresees a ripple effect, as he stated that with reduction in prices, more investments will come to the country, thus creating greater wealth in St Vincent and the Grenadines.

It is part of our vision that after 10 years, we intend for St Vincent and the Grenadines to be entirely green in the delivery of energy, principally geothermal and hydro and …a mix with solar.

“The beautiful thing about geothermal is that it provides a base load for the grid of 98 per cent. Wind and solar will provide just below 40 per cent. So, if you do wind and solar, you still have a substantial amount of imported fuel to do the generation of electricity”.(BK)