As we continue to look at the projects which were selected by our judges for presentation at the T&T Energy Conference 2025, during the Innovation and Technology Challenge, we are pleased to highlight one submitted by another of our member companies, TOSL Engineering. The featured project which was presented by Dave Ramnarine, Team Lead Chemical Process and Asset Integrity Solutions, TOSL Engineering Limited, is the first implementation of an energy-efficient district cooling system in Trinidad and Tobago, designed specifically for Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The project, in alignment with the National Cooling Strategy for Trinidad and Tobago, provides an efficient way to air condition a network of buildings which involves the distribution of chilled water from a centralized source to multiple buildings via a network of insulated pipes. This project, led by TOSL Engineering Limited in partnership with the Ministry of Planning and Development and UNDP, focuses on reducing electricity consumption and greenhouse gas emissions by utilizing environmentally friendly, low-Global Warming Potential (GWP) refrigerants.
The project is significant to the energy sector in T&T since it has the potential to reduce the demand for natural gas for power. According to TOSL “By implementing energy-efficient cooling systems in Trinidad and Tobago, the high electricity demands typically associated with air conditioning in tropical regions can be reduced by up to 20%.” This directly lowers the demand for electricity generation, which is critical in regions where energy resources are limited, and such efficiency supports national energy-saving goals and aligns with sustainability priorities.
Additionally, by centralizing cooling and reducing electricity usage, the project reduces the strain and cyclic loads on electrical grids and supports a more balanced and stable electricity distribution. In Trinidad & Tobago, this will allow gas to be allocated more to other income-generating sectors.
Yet another positive is the design, which is compatible with renewable energy sources, providing opportunities to integrate solar or other renewable energy sources. This creates a pathway for reducing fossil fuel dependency in cooling systems, essential for achieving long-term climate targets. In the energy sector waste heat can be used to power a district cooling system, enabling further savings.
This innovation will have a direct impact on the high energy consumption and environmental effect of conventional cooling systems in Small Island Developing States (SIDS) like Trinidad and Tobago, while also reducing the use of ozone depleting refrigerants. Traditional cooling systems are energy-intensive, leading to high electricity costs.
Many existing cooling systems rely on refrigerants with high Global Warming Potential (GWP), which contributes to climate change and violates international environmental agreements like the Montreal Protocol.
The lack of integrated, scalable, and efficient cooling technologies tailored to SIDS' unique needs has hindered the adoption of sustainable cooling strategies.
Traditional cooling technologies require significant initial capital investments, discouraging widespread adoption of energy-efficient solutions, particularly for businesses and communities with budget constraints.
This district cooling innovation addresses these problems by:
1. Reducing energy consumption through centralized, highly efficient cooling thereby removing eight (8) Central Cooling Unit and more than thirty-eight (38) Single Split Units replaced with one chiller
2. Utilizing ozone-friendly, low-GWP refrigerants to minimize environmental impact.
3. Introducing "Cooling as a Service" (CaaS) to eliminate upfront costs and encourage adoption
What makes this technology even more attractive and adoptable is its clear potential market and significant scalability prospects, particularly in regions with tropical climates and high energy demand like Small Island Developing States (SIDS). The centralized nature of district cooling systems allows for seamless expansion as demand grows. New buildings and facilities can be connected to the system, leveraging the existing infrastructure. Low-GWP refrigerants and energy-efficient chillers are scalable technologies that can be deployed across multiple sectors and geographies with minimal modification. At TOSL’s location in Maharaj Avenue they can add their neighbors as off takers from the District Cooling system, allowing them to benefit from the CaaS model and energy saving.
Other businesses locally with high cooling demands (e.g., hotels, shopping malls, data centers, business districts, industrial estates and manufacturing plants) are key markets. These sectors are often burdened by high operational costs due to inefficient cooling technologies. Industrial users, such as those in petrochemicals and oil and gas, can benefit from centralized cooling to reduce energy consumption and emissions.
The Caribbean region, including Trinidad and Tobago, faces high cooling demands year-round due to its tropical climate. This innovation directly addresses these needs by offering energy-efficient cooling solutions tailored to such environments. Similar SIDS worldwide (e.g., Pacific and Indian Ocean regions) share comparable challenges, making this innovation highly relevant beyond the Caribbean.
By reducing reliance on fossil fuels and increasing energy efficiency, the innovation enhances energy security and climate resilience, addressing the vulnerabilities of SIDS to climate change.