Green energy production is one step closer to taking an integral part of the Caribbean’s energy landscape following the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between ANSA McAL Limited and Kenesjay Green Limited (KGL) at COP28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, on Saturday.
The MOU, signed by ANSA McAL Group CEO Anthony N. Sabga III and KGL Chairman and Founder CEO Philip Julian, aims to accelerate the development of new, commercially viable green energy projects in the Caribbean region.
The Group CEO and Mr Julian were joined by the Minister of Planning and Development for T&T, Pennelope Beckles, Dominica’s Minister for the Environment, Rural Modernisation, Kalinago Upliftment and Constituency Empowerment, Cozier Frederick, the CEO of Climate Resilience Execution Agency for Dominica (CREAD), Francine Baron, as well as St Kitts and Nevis’ Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication and Technology and Posts, Konris Maynard at the NDC Partnership Pavilion at COP28, in Expo City, Dubai.
Mr Sabga III stated that the Caribbean region has produced a “phenomenal industry” complemented by “phenomenal people,” and “the talent and capability exists,” and this is the direction ANSA McAL wants to head. In a statement, he said, “I am proud of this first step taken today to partner with KGL to explore projects to harness the Caribbean’s natural resources to provide more sustainable solutions that impact the lives of the people of our region. It is our intent to bring considerable resources in people, capital and technology to support the efforts of our region in the fight for a greener future.”
At the signing, Mr. Julian said, “This MOU with a Caribbean corporate heavyweight like ANSA McAL is an important next step in advancing potential green projects in the region, including other geothermal-rich countries in the Caribbean.”
Minister of Planning and Development for T&T, Pennelope Beckles, restated the role the private sector can play in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals, which is in line with ANSA McAL’s recently updated purpose – “Inspiring Better Choices for a Better World.” Minister Beckles congratulated both companies at the signing, “There’s no better joy for me than to be actually here, present, witnessing the signing. I think we are extremely proud of this initiative.” She added, “We’re looking forward to hearing a lot more, and I’m looking forward to talking about this as one of the success stories in the Caribbean.”
Several green hydrogen initiatives are already being championed across the Caribbean by KGL.
The Point Lisas NewGen Project
The company has kicked off a US $350 million project in T&T, which Julian also leads as founder and CEO of NewGen Energy Limited, which is set to be a low-carbon, green hydrogen production facility. NewGen has partnered with Trinidad’s Nitrogen Company’s (Tringen) ammonia complex, co-owned by Yara Trinidad, to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions by replacing gas with water in its production, and according to Julian, “the much-needed hydrogen feedstock for Point Lisas,” the established industrial estate littered with petrochemical facilities.
Based on NewGen’s plans, when completed, it will be the world’s largest clean hydrogen-producing facility of its kind, using a combination of solar and energy efficiency-sourced power. It will generate carbon-free hydrogen to meet 20 per cent of the hydrogen requirement for Tringen. Once up and running, the project will save approximately 200,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually.
The Point Lisas project will require 130 megawatts (MW) of electricity, and 30 MW will come from the new Lightsource bp’s Brechin Castle Solar Farm project, which is expected to become operational by the second quarter of 2025 and is currently under construction. The remainder of the electricity will come from PowerGen Point Lisas and only for NewGen’s plant. It will not affect the existing supply to the Trinidad and Tobago Electricity Commission’s (T&TEC) residential, commercial, and industrial customers. Water for the needed electrolysis will come from T&T’s Water and Sewerage Authority but will account for 0.1 per cent of the nation’s water supply, and even this water demand will reduce as the plant begins and continues operations.
Dominica’s geothermal energy expanding
Meanwhile, in Dominica, KGL signed an MOU with the Government of Dominica at COP26 two years ago to develop the first large-scale green hydrogen geothermal development in the Caribbean. This project, which is expected to produce 7 megawatts of power from the Rosseau Valley to Dominica, will be completed by the end of 2023. Currently, 28 per cent of Dominica’s energy requirements are met from renewables such as hydropower and wind. The geothermal risk mitigation project should lower electricity costs and boost the share of renewable energy. The Dominican government hopes to supply 23,000 homes with geothermal energy, representing some 90 per cent of the population, and export electricity to the French islands of Guadeloupe and Martinique.
Speaking at the MOU signing, the CREAD CEO Francine Baron said, “Dominica is moving steadfast production of its first geothermal aim to develop our geothermal resources further to allow for investments at industrial scale. This would include establishing a green eco-industrial park and developing green products for export, including green hydrogen, green, ammonia and green fuel.” She added that during COP28, they expect to sign an agreement with a new developer to develop a 10-megawatt geothermal plant.
This story was published as part of Climate Tracker’s COP28 Climate Justice Reporting Fellowship
