The Caribbean Islands Move Toward Energy Independence

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PHOTO: FOTOLIA/PIERRE-YVES BABELON
The Caribbean islands are making great steps toward energy independence.

The islands in the Caribbean basin — with the exception of Trinidad, Tobago and Barbados — are currently almost totally energy-dependent on foreign oil. This reliance upon imports has wreaked havoc on the area’s balance of payments, employment opportunities and development plans. (In some countries, for example, imported petroleum fuel bills equal as much as 20 percent of the gross national product.)

Battling the Oil Barrel

Fortunately, steps are now being taken to promote energy independence in the islands. Among the options being studied are geothermal energy, ocean thermal energy conversion (utilizing the temperature gradients in Atlantic and Caribbean waters to produce electricity), wind energy (capturing the northeast trade winds that consistently blow over the area), biomass applications (such as the use of bagasse, a combustible by-product of sugar cane) and — of course — harnessing the region’s abundant solar radiation.

  • Published on May 1, 1982
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