by Larry Smith
Six companies are waiting for the Bahamas Electricity Corporation to make a determination on proposals submitted in Phase II of the Corporation's renewable energy RFP. Four of the proposals are for waste-to-energy plants in Nassau, and the remaining two have proposed solar and wind projects on several islands.
The tendering process began in May 2008. Thirteen companies were shortlisted in September 2008 from a field of 30 initial proposals using four technologies - solar, wind, hydrokinetic and biomass.
Currently, all of the Bahamas' electricity needs are provided by imported fossil fuels. BEC wants to generate at least 10% of its power from alternative fuel sources.
The BEC RFP is part of a $3.8 million sustainable energy programme for the Bahamas financed by the UN's Global Environment Facility and the Inter-American Development Bank. The programme includes energy efficiency pilot projects, with equipment being procured this month to install compact fluorescent lightbulbs, solar water heaters and solar power panels in public housing in Nassau.
Meanwhile, consultants are completing detailed energy audits of some 50 homes, hotels and public buildings (including the homes of the prime minister and environment minister). This information will be used to design incentive policies and recommend changes to the building code to promote energy efficiency in the construction sector.
The International Energy Agency says the issue of power-related emissions is especially
pressing in developing countries like the Bahamas, where demand growth
is high (about 3 per cent growth a year in our case). That's because
investments in new conventional generating capacity will lock in carbon
production as plants are used over several decades.
A clear
example of this problem is our recent decision to spend $100 million on
a new conventional power plant in Abaco that will burn the lowest grade
of fossil fuel available and will supply the island's electricity needs
for the next 30 years. Similar plants are being built on Eleuthera and Bimini, and BEC is also contemplating a $300 million
expansion of the fuel oil power plant at Clifton on New Providence,
which has been a pollution nightmare over its 50-year lifespan.
A comprehensive report on BEC's operations and finances will be submitted to
government later this month by German consultants (Fichtner). And a
legislative/regulatory review of what is needed to promote the
widespread adoption of energy efficiency measures and renewable energy
technologies begins in January.
Meanwhile, a decision on a
30-megawatt, private sector, waste-to-energy project for the Harrold
Road landfill will be made early in the new year, and could be on
stream within two years. This will help tackle our mounting garbage
problem, while producing electricity for BEC at a cost-effective rate.
The government has also indicated that it will introduce vehicle emissions standards next year as well as environmental fees associated with the purchase of durable goods (including cars and major appliances) to help pay for their ultimate disposal. A limit will also be imposed on the age of vehicles that can be imported.
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