Caribbean, Energy, Transportation and Resilience: Opportunities for Investment & Innovation

The event is being organized by the Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports, Energy and Labour of Saint Lucia in collaboration with the Organization of American States (OAS)under the umbrella of the Energy and Climate Partnership of the Americas (ECPA).

The Caribbean region has considerable potential to build smart cities. New trends in technology provide a unique opportunity to upgrade infrastructure, modernize electric grids, deploy electric mobility and build disaster-resilient communities. Further, the region’s abundant renewable energy resources allows small island states to diversify their energy matrix, reduce exposure to volatile oil prices, and put electricity costs in check.

The objective of the Forum is to explore new technologies and to combine them with existing regional experiences in sustainable urban development in order to design a roadmap for the Caribbean smart cities of the future.

The Forum will bring together city leaders, utilities, policy makers, physical planners, capital providers, and multilaterals from across the Caribbean to build a blueprint for resilient energy and transportation infrastructure and to exchange ideas, best practices, and technologies.

A white paper will be developed based on the outcomes of the Forum for submission at the IV ECPA Ministerial to be convened in Montego Bay, Jamaica in 2020.

DAY 1

Panelists:

“BREAKING DOWN THE NEEDS AND CHALLENGES WITH REGARD TO SUSTAINABLE ENERGY, TRANSPORT AND RESILIENCE” 

• Dr. Curtis Boodoo, University of Trinidad and Tobago. See presentation, here.

PANEL I “THE TRANSPORT AND ENERGY NEXUS: STATE OF PLAY IN THE CARIBBEAN”

Moderator: Juan Cruz Monticelli, Senior Energy Division Chief, Department of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States

“What Does Clean Transportation Look Like”

• Mr. Kurt Inglis, e-Mobility Work Programmed Lead, Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Energy, Saint Lucia.

“The Latest State of the Art in Automotive Technology”

• Dr. David Bristol, Gearing Up Limited. See presentation, here.

“How Prepared Are the Utilities to Respond to Grid Impacts Associated With Electricity Mobility Transition”

• Mr. Antonio Sealy, Systems Engineer, Barbados Light And Power. See presentation, here.

“Lessons Learned From Countries That Are Getting in Right”

Participants

• Mr. Simon Richard, Megapower, Barbados
• Mr. Nicolas Pouget, Project and Development Manager, Guadeloupe. Se presentation, here.
• Mr. Errington Case, Manager Grid Interconnection, Jamaica Public Service Company LTD

PANELL II “DRIVERS FOR BUILDING SYNERGIES FOR ENERGY, TRANSPORT AND RESILIENCE”

Moderator: Mr. Terrence Gillard, Chief of Energy, Science and Technology Officer, Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Energy, Saint Lucia

The Caribbean Nationally Determined Contributions Finance Initiative

• Mrs. Annette Rattigan-Leo, Chief Sustainable Development and Environmental Officer, Department of Sustainable Development, Saint Lucia. See presentation, here.

“Financing Resilient Energy and Transportation Infrastructure”

• Mr. Christopher Straughn, Sustainable Energy Analyst, Caribbean Development Bank. See presentation, here.

“The Smart City Framework: Integration New Technologies with Existing Infrastructure”

• Ambassador Dr. Angus Friday, Executive Chairman, the Atlantean Biosphere Program. See presentation, here.

PANEL III “INNOVATION AND TOOLS FOR ENERGY RESILIENCE”

Moderator: Dr. Devon Gardner, Head of the Energy Unit, CARICOM Secretariat. See presentation, here.

Building Resilience into Sustainable Energy

• Ambassador Brian Challenger, Ministry of Tourism, Economic Development, Investment and Energy of Antigua and Barbuda

Building Linkages across Sectors and Engaging the Private Sectors (MSMEs and Market Expansion)

• Dr. Gary Jackson, Executive Director, CCREEE. See presentation, here.

“Resilient Energy Systems Tools for Powering Critical Infrastructure”

• Mr. Jade Hutchinson, Noah Energy. See presentation, here.

“V2G, Secondary Life of EV Batteries, Storage”

• Mr. Simon Richards, MegaPower, Barbados

DAY 2

PANEL IV “CATALYZING THE ENERGY, TRANSPORT AND RESILIENCE NEXUS”

Moderator: Mrs. Judith Ephraim, Head of Sustainable Energy Unite, OECS

Advancing Sustainable Transport in the Caribbean

• Dr. Kristin Season, Global Green Growth Institute/OECS Commission. See presentation, here.

Group Exercise: “Synergies in Energy, Transport and Resilience”

Facilitators:

Dr. Curtis Boodoo, University of Trinidad and Tobago

Mr. Juan Cruz Monticelli, Senior Energy Division Chief, Department of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States

Mrs. Charlene Solozano, Energy Officer, Department of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States

Conclusions and Recommendations from the Group Exercise

“Looking Ahead: IV ECPA Ministerial in Montego Bay, Jamaica 2020”

Facilitators: 

Mr. Juan Cruz Monticelli, Senior Energy Division Chief, Department of Sustainable Development, Organization of American States

Mr. Ivor Daniel, Permanent Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Ports and Energy, Saint Lucia

Mr. Courtney Laidlaw, Engineer Officer, Ministry of Transport and Mining, Jamaica. See presentation, here.

Mr. Mark Williams, Senior Energy Engineer, Ministry of Science, Energy and Technology, Jamaica