by Tricia Simon
As humans advance, we have moved from fire, coal, steam, fossil fuels, natural gas, nuclear to renewable energy such as solar, wind, hydrogen, tidal, biomass and geothermal energy for our energy sources.
At present, scientists have stated that due to the use of fossil fuels (coal, coal, petroleum, natural gas, oil shales, bitumens, tar sands, and heavy oils) we are experiencing climate change with the ensuing global warming, rising of the seas, wildfires with 2019 being the “second warmest year on record.”
The reality is that climate change can and would have a significant negative impact on Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique according to the report from the Integrated Climate Change Adaption (ICCAS) Programme. The time to act is now! Each individual needs to take responsibility to help decrease and manage climate change as we did to save the ozone layer. On 12 December 2015, 196 countries signed The Paris Agreement which is a United Nations climate change legally binding agreement with its mandate to address climate change.
The great shift as I always say, miracles do happen. British Petroleum, a company renowned for oil and gas has made their intent public to shift to green, renewable energy to harness wind and solar power. This is the same company renowned for the 20 April 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico where the negative effects are still present. When one thinks of oil, the Arab states such as the United Arab Emirates (UAE) come to mind. But the UAE wants to buck the trend with its Sustainable City, “with a range of projects aimed at having more than 40% of the country’s energy come from renewable sources and cutting consumption by the same margin by 2050.” In Grenada, we are a sunshine island, blessed with the sun and wind to produce energy. The International Energy Agency has stated that the “share of renewables in global electricity generation jumped to 29% in 2020, up from 27% in 2019.”
We have all jumped on the bandwagon for solar energy as a renewable source of energy, which to be honest is great as we are trying to improve and make positive choices. But as we “advance” we need to realise that sand is a finite resource like fossil fuel, meaning at some point we would run out of sand. India, a global giant in the solar industry has stated that they do, “not have any known deposits of silica suitable for producing solar panels.” Pundits have stated that this has stymied India’s quest to become the global leader in solar production. The Guardian in the article, “Is the world running out of sand? The truth behind stolen beaches and dredged islands” provides an in-depth analysis regarding the issues of sand-silica-solar panels. Essentially, as a finite resource sand, after a while would become scarce and with less supply expensive. So, this would increase the cost of the solar panels unless we are able to find a viable option. Today, they are cheap. In the next 25 – 30 years which is the average lifespan for a solar panel, we can anticipate that they would become more expensive. In addition, can we recycle solar panels?
The Dutch were onto something as for hundred of years they have used windmills and so wind power for a number of industrial uses. Today, windmills or wind turbines are a clean, renewable form of energy. The majority of wind turbines are made using fiberglass, but metal blades are an eco-friendly option. At present, we are faced with the conundrum of finding a use for the huge number of cars that litter our beautiful island, Grenada the Beautiful.
A possible solution would be to use the metal from the cars strewn on the roadside to create blades for our “Made in Grenada” wind turbines. This also creates employment and skill development for our youth. I hear the common phrase, ‘duh government doh do so and so”, the reality is that entrepreneurship stems from individuals, the government’s role is to provide the framework to assist, with the creation of statutory bodies such as the Grenada Investment Development Corporation. I recently travelled to Petite Martinique and saw a village shop being run solely on wind and solar power. We are a small island with limited resources, but we like Africa, are blessed with a large youthful population of human capital. Human capital has always been a driver for change and development. Our children live in an internet age where knowledge is at their fingertips, so Google, “how to make a windmill” and when it works please contact me (473) 403-1697. We need to encourage our youth to be innovative, create a youth campaign and provide prizes for our youth in the key areas of economic growth; technology, science, education, agriculture, tourism, finance, health, construction etc. The Nobel Prize is coveted and a key driver for innovation and development.
Several individuals are up in arms regarding the repurchase of Grenlec shares, so to fully understand the issue I had to do some research. The article, “Why Grenada had to nationalise its electricity for $60m to pursue renewables”, sums up the situation. The reality is that Grenlec was and still is a monopoly in regards to electricity (generation, transmission and distribution) and until recently it was foreign-owned by a privatisation deal done 30 years ago. The very nature of a business is to make a return on investment even at the expense of social and development cost to a nation like Grenada. As a monopoly this means that users here in Grenada were at its mercy in regards to the high price paid for electricity. Hopefully, with a key component of the repurchase being a policy drive for renewables we would see a decrease in the cost of electricity.
Electricity is a key component of manufacturing where we can use all the mangoes on the side of the road to make juice and other products. This high price stifled economic growth for manufacturing and development. In addition, the German-based development agency, GIZ has compiled a report which concluded that “Electricity prices on the island state of Grenada are among the highest in the world for several reasons. One of which is the island’s dependence on fossil fuels and thus resulting in high import costs.” This monopoly was also due to the “legal structure and the lack of regulatory framework. The government of Grenada would therefore like to renegotiate the monopoly contract — which is in force until 2073 — with the electricity supplier Grenlec and its main investor.”
As I am on the topic of foreign investment, we need to stop complaining “dat dem foreigners comin and take ova, especially dem so and so.“ We as Grenadians in the diaspora and here need to come together and invest in Grenada. A good business model would be a cooperative as it truly allows us to work together. It is expected that with the repurchase of Grenlec and the push for renewables we can see a significant boost in manufacturing and agroprocessing. Manufacturing and actual production would help to diminish our skewed balance of trade in terms of high imports compared to dismal export levels.
So, whether our energy future is to become sustainable or not for development, we need to emulate and learn from other countries who are in the forefront of the industry. We are a small island but we “talawah”. The cost advantages stem from (a) core technological competence (b) government policy and (c) the cost of capital. In regards to core technological competence this comes from human capital as a knowledge base and research and development. Government policy is centered around subsidies, legislation, raw materials, labour and favourable export and import policies. The cost of capital relates to borrowing. Countries such as Canada, United States, China, EU and Germany are using the above for economic development.
Grenlec is a key driver of our economic development, thus shapes our future which belongs to our children. Indigenous peoples coin this as the “seven generation principles” where we are most connected to 7 generations, current, present and the future. We essentially need to revere our past and prepare for future generations — intergenerational legacies. As part of creating intergenerational wealth, accountability and sustainability, each child in Grenada should be given an opportunity to own one share, as with ownership comes responsibility — first option to purchase a share. They are the ones to inherit Grenada that we as adults are preparing to leave for them. I have several little cousins who I expect greatness from, so I am saving the money to help each purchase one share of Grenlec. Then we as a people of Grenada would never be held hostage when one shareholder owns the majority of the shares and dictates polices and stymies our development. If we allow dat again dog go eat we suppa again. Leh we all save we money, suck salt, pay duh price so we can all rise as a nation. Meh fadda say, we have 4 fingers an all not deh same, so some would make more money dan odders, but as long as everybody can “eat ah food” we go be good!
Tricia Simon is an Attorney-at-Law called to the bar in the State of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique and the Province of Ontario, Canada.
Very good article. However, I am a little confuse about rusted car metal to build rusted wind turbine.
Law school should teach more about critical mass.
Small islands like Grenada, Carriacou and PM should not try to compete with huge industries. They will always produce cheaper products because of …critical mass (volume).
Your contribution could be to sue Grenlec “pro bono” and all of us hitting the street to support you to implement a real NetMetering with free permit for houses with less than 2KW solar system.
30,000 houses with rooftop solar and ROI=26 months. Free electricity thereafter for 20 years. Governmant and Grenlec will not like it.
$9 Mec capital, 60,000 man-day to install, 90 TWH/year, 2,000TWH saving for 30,000 Grenadians is $2 billion ec electricity saving in brothers and sisters pockets.
Think big, Act bold as Joe Biden said.
And we could start tomorrow, and need low skills, and can ramp-up quickly, and Grenada, Carriacou and PM will become carbon free electricity and 100% renewable by 2035.
But why make it simple when we can make complicated.
30,000 houses with rooftop solar and ROI=26 months. Free electricity thereafter for 20 years. Governmant and Grenlec will not like it.
Richard, you seem quite knowledgable, are sure about the ROI = 26 months, because if it is, I am definitely interested.
Maybe things have changed because it used to be 10 years ROI for Solar panel installation plus the added maintenance and decreased efficiency.
That said, I am a big fan of Solar Lithium Storage Generators. If it weren’t for the ridiculous taxes in Grenada I would have one already and be happily sticking it to Grenlec. Hahaha.
Haven’t you heard the news that the new kid on the block is Hydrogen and that Hydrogen could be the fuel for vehicles in the future. Yes the writer is correct in all aspect of her presentation especially the Grenlec scenario whereby the ownership of Grenlec should serve to building entrepreneurship in our young people. As I have often said (and the writer has referenced this) that more emphasis must be placed on Grenadians and Grenadians offsprings especially in the diaspora to invest in Grenada. But how can this happen when the offsprings of Grenadians in the diaspora are treated as foreigners. as an example: A friend of mine was born in Britain carries a Grenadian Passport because of his mother being a Grenadian. However, it is my understanding that my friend son (who is English) is interested in visiting Grenada to look around for business opportunity was denied a Grenadian passport. (This information was given to me by his father). However, it appears that the Barbardos Government are much more considerate in the treatment of their offsprings. I am being told that he would be going to Barbados using a Bajan passport becaues of his Grandfather being a Barbarian
More dreamy fantasy that ignore reality and the Cost Benefit Analysis.
Fossil Fuel is cheap abundant, and practical.
Wind and Solar Energy is Expensive, Scarce and impractical.
Citing the Ozone hole and CFCs, Global Warming and Carbon are nothing but the same old UN Computer model driven hoax, to gain money and power for the Globalists, just like the current Covid scam have done
Ozone like Carbon varies with the natural cycle of Earth and other Solar system cycles that impacts Earth Atmosphere.
By all means use all available sources of energy be it Fossil or Solsr based but let it be practical and cost effective and not subsidised by the poor as currently happens.
Dumb politicians are quick to ban cheap affordable cars and fossil fuel sources that are practical and make life comfortable for the vast majority of people, only to serve an elitist wealthy elite, who can afford the extra costs associated with Wind, Solar and Electric Cars and Green toys.
Like so many things that Government impose on our daily lives, such as Global Warming and CV19 policy, it should ultimately be about Individual choice rather than tyrannical top down force and punishment to submit to their dogma and religion.
Have all the Wind and Solar you want if you can afford it but dont penalise others who find Fossil fuel affordable and practical. But that’s the problem with the various zealots, they want to force their way on you.
Fossil fuels cheap & abundant? Yes until they run out, they also cause pollution & global warming. Renewable green energy is free, after it’s installation costs. So what are you chatting about?
Yep, Fossil fuel is cheap to extract, distribute, store and always available. And there are enormous reserves of lovely Oil, Coal and Gas that would be foolish to simply leave in the ground.
And as a bonus we get a little more extra Carbon currently at about 417ppm…. that we require to grow more food and trees.
As for causing Global Warming…..more UN IPCC Computer modelling hoax, that claim Carbon and Temperature are related when clearly from all the Historical Geological data, there is no corrolation just speculation.
Yep….Temperature have risen 1.2-1.5 F in the past 170 years of recorded Temperatures….and that a good thing for Planet Earth and the People that live here.
It is a pity that instead of spending millions of dollars on a new oil powered generator, that the government or Grenlec didn’t use the money to spend on green energy. Every roof could have solar panels, forget about the sand argument, silica is a component of glass & we throw millions of tonnes of that away every year when it can be easily recycled. Every house on a big enough plot could have a small wind turbine. Unused land could be used to grow sugar cane, the sugar can be converted to Ethanol which can replace petrol (gasoline) in cars. Used cooking oil can be collected, filtered and added to diesel fuel. Non of this is new technology. With the abundance of sun & wind in the Caribbean we could become a hub of green energy for the world.