Barbados is redefining its renewable energy landscape with an ambitious four-year initiative to convert agricultural waste into bioenergy. The Sustainable Management and Resilient Thinking for our Energy Revolution (SMARTER) project, funded by the Global Environment Facility, marks a pivotal step towards the nation’s goal of achieving 100% renewable energy by 2030.
Launched on Wednesday at the Ministry of Energy, the project aims to diversify the country’s energy portfolio, reduce reliance on fossil fuels, and leverage underutilized resources like farm waste and biomass.
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Energy Minister Senator Lisa Cummins highlighted the importance of broadening Barbados’ approach to renewable energy, noting the limitations of existing solar photovoltaic (PV) technologies.
“Renewable energy is not just about solar PV. While solar has been central to our strategy, it’s intermittent and requires storage technologies to be effective,” she explained.
The SMARTER project builds on earlier successes in biofuel innovation, such as converting rum production waste and sargassum seaweed into energy. Currently, Barbados generates only four megawatts of biomass energy, but this initiative is poised to significantly boost that figure.
Limya Eltayeb, Resident Representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), emphasized the initiative’s dual environmental and economic impact. “This project will identify the best substrates for bioenergy production while empowering farmers, fisherfolk, and others in agriculture to participate in the energy transition, creating jobs and fostering innovation,” she said.
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Energy Ministry Technical Officer Frank Branch revealed plans to map resources and work with farmers to secure reliable supply chains for bioenergy production, ensuring economic and sustainable gas output.
By supporting Barbados’ commitments under the Paris Agreement, the SMARTER project offers an opportunity to lower fossil fuel costs and advance the nation’s climate goals. Senator Cummins underscored the transformative potential of bioenergy, stating, “Our transition to renewable energy must be multidimensional. Bioenergy will play a critical role in supporting transportation, heating, and electricity production.”
The project underscores Barbados’ dedication to sustainability, innovation, and resilience as it advances toward a greener future.
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