Trinidad and Tobago’s transition to renewable energy was given a boost today with the announcement of the 12 finalist sites chosen to receive installations of small-scale roof-mounted Solar Photovoltaic (PV) solar panels, capable of supplying energy for power generation. The announcement was made by the Global Climate Change Alliance Plus (GCCA+) Project Team at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) in Trinidad and Tobago. These installations form part of a EUR 2.4 M project entitled ‘Support to the Implementation of Trinidad and Tobago’s Nationally Determined Contribution’, designed to assist the country on a low carbon path, and increase its climate resilience in keeping with its stated targets and committments under the 2015 Paris Agreement.
The GCCA+ Project is a global initiative of the European Union (EU) as donor partner, in collaboration locally with the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, through the Ministry of Planning and Development and the Ministry of Energy and Energy Industries. The UNDP is the on-the-ground implementing partner, bringing to bear a strong track record of project management, and access to a well-developed global network of expertise and frameworks, that will serve to support the various technical and resource enhancing aspects of the project in Trinidad and Tobago.
H.E. Peter Cavendish, EU Ambassador to Trinidad and Tobago, congratulated the 12 finalists, and stated: “We all know that the climate crisis is one of the most enduring challenges of our time. While every country is at risk because of climate change, it is a well-known fact that Small Island Developing States (SIDS), like Trinidad and Tobago, are among the most vulnerable to its negative impacts. It is for this reason that the EU developed the GCCA+ initiative, to support SIDS to adapt to and mitigate climate change, and to assist their efforts to achieve their climate commitments under the Paris Agreement. We are therefore happy to support Trinidad and Tobago in this endeavour, and we look forward to the additional benefits that will redound to this country and its citizens as the project unfolds.”
The sites were selected from 164 applications received after a public call for Expressions of Interest, in July 2020. Of 26 sites that were shortlisted, these final 12 represent a cross-section of NGOs, micro-enterprises, cooperatives, and public institutions, situated in urban, and developing and remote communities across both Trinidad and Tobago. They include:
· Aquaculture Unit (AU), Fisheries Division, Ministry of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries
· Brasso Seco Paria Tourism Action Committee (BSPTAC)
· Brasso Seco Village Council Community Centre
· Brasso Venado Government Primary School
· Caribbean Institute of Astronomy (CARINA)
· J C MacDonald Home for the Aged
· Nature Seekers
· Reptile Conservation Center of Trinidad and Tobago (RCCTT)
· Speyside High School, Tobago
· Strong Ones Youth Club
· The Division of Food Production, Forestry and Fisheries – Tobago House of Assembly
· Trinidad and Tobago Red Cross Society
The installation of solar panels, means that these 12 finalist sites will benefit from greater energy efficiency and reduced carbon emissions. In addition, the GCCA+ Project Team in partnership with the Government, will provide specialised maintenance training to upgrade the skills of local technical teams to support the beneficiary organizations in maintaining the installations.
Minister of Planning and Development, the Honourable Camille Robinson-Regis, stated: “The Government of Trinidad and Tobago is committed to implementing its obligations and commitments under the Paris Agreement, which includes achieving net-zero in the second half of this century as a national priority. This partnership with the EU’s GCCA+, is another step towards attaining net-zero emissions, not only contributing to the objectives of the Paris Agreement but also fulfilling Trinidad and Tobago's national priorities, outlined in the National Development Strategy – Vision 2030 – under Theme V, ‘Placing the Environment at the Centre of Social and Economic Development’, while also attaining SDG13 - Climate Action.”
The 12 finalist sites are currently undergoing summary technical inspection for confirmation of system compatibility and safety specifications, including positive inspection results from the requisite local authorities prior to GCCA+ final approval. The projected timeline for completion of panel installation is the first quarter of 2022. Beneficiaries of this project will be encouraged to share their experiences with the communities in which they operate, to encourage others to follow suit.
Randi Davis, Resident Representative of the UNDP to Trinidad and Tobago, Aruba, Curacao, and Sint Maarten, has expressed her gratitude to both the EU and the Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago, for making this project a priority focus, she stated: “The UNDP is pleased to be a partner in the GCCA+ Trinidad and Tobago project, and sees this as a positive step towards realizing the Sustainable Development Goals. The outcomes of this project will demonstrate to other SIDS that the advancement of solar energy as a clean and sustainable source of power generation is achievable in their countries.”
The strategic remit of the GCCA+ Project Team includes the execution of a Public Awareness Raising Campaign. The campaign aims to sensitize the public about the benefits, accessibility, correct pricing, and affordability of solar power as a source of clean, sustainable, and renewable energy. This project is particularly relevant to the diversification of power generation in energy-based economies such as Trinidad and Tobago, and we look forward to its successful implementation.