St. Lucia Project Profiles

National Energy Policy / Sustainable Energy Plan Development

Objective: Development of NEP/SEPs in St. Lucia is of particular interest because in 1999 St. Lucia became the first small island state and among the first countries in the world to publicly commit to a comprehensive sustainable transformation of its energy sector. http://www.sovereign-publications.com/stlucia.htm

Description: In 2001, the St. Lucian government approved a comprehensive 10-year Sustainable Energy Plan to advance its ambitious goals. The plan was developed by the Sustainable Energy Office in its Ministry of Planning, Development, Environment and Housing with help from the Climate Institute and the Organization of American States (OAS).  Stakeholders including the hotel industry, environmental non-governmental organizations (NGOs), LUCELEC (the electric utility), and other businesses were also involved. Although this plan does not phase out CO2 emissions, it takes impressive strides in that direction, aiming for a 35 % cut in greenhouse emissions from business-as-usual projections by 2010.  In 2003 an NEP was formally adopted by the government which called for the development and use of 7% renewables by 2005 and 20% (7MW) by 2010.  It also set goals of energy consumption reductions of 5% and 15% by 2005 and 2010 respectively according to the OAS.

Update:  In 2006 GSEII began a review of the progress made on sustainable energy projects. The review revealed that some efficiency measures and small-scale renewable energy projects were completed.  GSEII’s major hope is for a grid tied renewable energy project.   GSEII was also assisting the government to write a 5 year implementation plan in 2006 since the government renewed its commitments to meet 2010 targets at this time.

Energy Efficient Lighting Project

(case study coming)

Objective: to reduce the demand for energy by replacing the standard 60-100W incandescent bulbs with energy-efficient 15 watt florescent bulbs. The installation of energy efficient lighting mitigates the demand for fossil-fueled energy, thus saving St. Lucians on their energy bills, as well as lessening burden on the climate.

Description and Results: The project was launched at an energy exhibition during Energy Awareness Week in St. Lucia in 2004.  By 2005, the Climate Institute and Climate Care allocated 6,000 energy efficient bulbs to be distributed by the St. Lucian Ministry of Planning.  After (and apart from) GSEII’s efforts, the Cuban government conducted a similar program in St. Lucia.  In October 2008, the St. Lucian cabinet agreed to continue the Energy Saving Light Bulb Project within the Ministry of Communications, Works, Transport and Public Utilities with the eventual goal of banning the use of incandescent bulbs on the island.

Energy Audits & Training Project for Hotel Industry

(case study coming) Summary Report, April 2004 (PDF, 76 KB)

Objective: to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by enhancing energy efficiency in the hospitality sector. GSEII also wants to increase stakeholder awareness of energy management opportunities (government, colleges, utilities, and the local consultants). A longer term goal of this project is to develop continuity in the energy management training field by supporting the development of a training host in St. Lucia.

Description and Results: In Feb. 2004, a series of training workshops and audits in energy management for the hospitality sector was conducted. Representatives were brought together from key stakeholder groups with an interest in energy management to share ideas and experiences about locally available resources to assist with their energy management needs.

The trainings were part of a project being undertaken by Lewis Engineering Inc., Marbek Resource Consultants, Inc., and the St. Lucia Ministry of Physical Development, Environment, and Housing; and made possible due to the support of the Climate Change Development Fund of the Canadian International Development Agency.

LUCELEC Point de Caille 4.25 MW Wind Farm

(case study coming)

Objective: to facilitate the transition away from fossil fuels by enhancing grid-connected renewable energy alternatives on SIDS.  Wind projects like this one are intended to improve the quality of the general energy supply while reducing the environmental impact of producing energy.

Description and Results: The Government of St. Lucia and the local utility, LUCELEC, showed interest in developing a wind farm on the island. Several sites were studied over time and wind resources were identified. In 2004, land at Point de Caille was identified as one of the areas most suitable for wind farm. The intent was to construct a wind farm in phases and analyze results over time. Unfortunately, the local utility (LUCELEC) could not follow through on this project because the land was bought for a high price by the hospitality industry.

 

Energy Week (2004)

GSEII co-sponsored St. Lucia’s second Energy Awareness Week from December 6-10, 2004.  The theme was, “A Vision for St. Lucia's Energy Future” and it was an important step in St. Lucia’s progress towards greater energy efficiency and renewable energy use. It helped facilitate development of a solid energy policy for St. Lucia and was also instrumental in raising international awareness.

Outreach: included a TV and radio broadcast from the Minister for Physical Development, Environment & Housing, and an energy supplement placed in the local newspaper. The supplement focused on interagency, local, and regional energy initiatives, and opportunities for energy management in the safety, and electricity and transportation sectors.

Events: Energy Exhibition and school project competition- an inter-secondary school science competition with about 50 participants with 10 projects.

More Energy Week Photos

St. Lucia Ciceron Landfill Gas to Energy Project

Objective: Generating electricity for the national grid from 11 year’s worth of solid waste dumped at the Ciceron landfill (closed since 2003).  The planned 400kW plant powered by captured methane emissions will serve as an example as the first of its kind in the Caribbean Island states and present opportunities for the transfer and installation of such technologies elsewhere. Project developers plan to market over 8,700 tons per year of carbon emission reduction credits from the project via the Clean Development Mechanism.

Description: Estimations of methane production at the site will be very important if consideration is to be given to potential validation of a landfill gas-to-energy project under the provisions of the Kyoto Clean Development Mechanism.  Collecting and burning the methane would lead to total estimated methane avoidance from the proposed project on the order of 8,713.6 tons CO2 equivalent/average year. Since methane would be released without the plant, the reductions could be claimed as avoided emissions.  The project was marked to receive $2 million in the GSEII Phase 2 Concept note

Update: The UNIDO-GSEII team successfully completed the pre-feasibility study for this project in the spring of 2005. Further planning is underway for the development of the Landfill Gas to Energy Project.

Poultry Litter to Energy Project

Description: GSEII supported efforts to examine using energy from poultry litter to substitute grid electricity in a local egg producing facility.  The project also considered using the litter to heat a small chicken nursery.  The host institution, Fresh Eggs, Ltd., expected that heat to increase production levels of its 11,000 laying hens. Supposing 24-hour a day use of electricity at the site, the power capacity of the proposed plant in St. Lucia would be in the range from around 7-11 kW.

Results: A feasibility analysis completed in March 2005 proved that this project would not be economically viable.

Other Past & Present Projects

• Make Solar Hot Water Systems affordable and available on the general market by developing a financing mechanism for them, providing financial training sessions, and building consumer awareness of the availability and benefits of those systems. (case study coming)
• Developing a 5-10 MW sulfur springs geothermal plant. In 2005 OAS was in the process of studying the feasibility of such a project.
• Conducting an electricity energy systems analysis with the World Bank focused on how climate change impacts electricity generation in relation to extreme weather, changing rainfall patterns, and emergencies that disrupt power service. As of 2009 research into Saint Lucia’s geothermal resources was thorough but an additional assessment of the island’s market potential for renewable energy is needed. http://cipore.org/participating-countries/st-lucia/
• Facilitating a public-private partnership between St. Lucia and Toronto based Probyn Co. to develop a 13.5 MW wind farm.  In 2002, Probyn Co. offered to develop the facility and sell power to LUCELEC for less than it then paid for diesel generation.  Despite LUCELEC’s interest, the project was slow moving as of 2002.  (case study coming)

GSEII Events in St. Lucia

April 2006. St. Lucia Energy Policy Stakeholders Meeting

September 2005. Caribbean Solar Financing Program Training Session

last updated July 31, 2009