PM: Renewables can spur diversification

THE PRIME MINISTER announced two projects between government and local energy companies that will provide the country with clean energy at a cost on par with current electricity output.

In a feature address at the Energy Chamber’s Energy Efficiency and Renewables Conference held virtually on Wednesday, Dr Rowley announced that BP and Shell will assist government in projects to produce a large amount of energy capable of powering the country in the same way natural gas has been able to.

He said the projects would see electricity generated from power sources located in Couva and Trincity. These projects, along with a waste-to-energy facility which is in the works, will be part of an overall initiative to reduce carbon emissions by 15 per cent, by 2030.

“Significant improvements in renewable energy means we now can begin diversification, knowing that we are not compromising our supply of electricity while reducing our carbon footprint,” Rowley said.

While covid19 put on pause a few steps leading to the completion of the project, he said as soon as the country is fully reopened, the project will continue.

“Such a great number of energy companies have risen to the challenge of energy efficiency and I applaud their initiatives but rest assured, the government has not been sitting idly by,” Rowley said

He said a carbon reduction strategy was developed for the three sectors which emit the most carbon: power generation, transport and industrial sectors.

“Significant improvements in renewable energy means we now can begin diversification, knowing that we are not compromising our supply of electricity while reducing our carbon footprint,” Rowley said. Government is committed to reducing this country’s greenhouse gas emissions through the use of cleaner forms of energy, and promoting renewable energy and energy efficiency, as noted in the National Development Strategy (Vision 2030). The Prime Minister said several local companies in agriculture and food processing, transport, hospitality, construction and retail have been working on reducing their carbon footprint

Rowley said the demand for oil and gas drastically reduced because of covid19, but the effects of the virus are only temporary as countries slowly return to a sense of normalcy. He said while factors prompting the worldwide push to transition to renewable energy have changed temporarily climate change remains a major factor in the reasoning to move to clean and sustainable energy.

In his address at the conference, Energy Minister Franklin Khan said several proposals for the solar power projects were reviewed with the purpose of finding one that would be able to do the job at an optimum price. Pointing out that almost all of TT’s electricity comes from natural gas, projects like the solar power projects will be able to displace some of that natural gas consumption so it could be used elsewhere.