There is an unfortunate perception that there is little innovation that takes place in the Caribbean energy sector and that any new technology or new process improvements are simply imported from elsewhere. The Energy Chamber of Trinidad & Tobago’s inaugural Innovation and Technology Challenge suggests that this perception is misplaced.
In response to a call for submissions from across the region, the Energy Chamber received seventeen applications from a wide range of different teams and covering a wide range of different innovations. An experienced and respected panel of judges has narrowed this down to five shortlisted projects that will be presented to the T&T Energy Conference on the 1st June 2022.
The shortlisted submissions cover a wide range of different types of innovations, ranging from new battery recycling technology to software solutions to improve field operations and process safety. Most of the submissions came from Trinidad & Tobago, though one of the shortlisted innovations covers projects implemented in Jamaica. The Energy Chamber hopes that in future years there will be more submissions from the wider Caribbean.
The T&T Energy Conference is the longstanding premier regional energy event and attracts the leadership of the major energy sector firms operating in Trinidad & Tobago and the wider region. The Innovation and Technology Challenge will give the shortlisted teams developing new ideas the chance to present their innovations to the audience at the conference, including many potential customers, investors, or partners. The Energy Chamber designed this Challenge because of persistent complaints from smaller member companies that they were often unable to get their good new ideas in front of the leadership of the major customers. Delegates at the Conference (both in-person and virtual) will have a chance to vote on the innovations that are pitched to the Conference and to choose an overall winning submission.
The five shortlisted innovations are outlined below (in no particular order):
Battery recycling: "The Battery Alchemist" team of BELEC Ltd and PROTOFABTT have developed innovative new techniques for battery recycling and recertifying, which allows the batteries to be put back into productive use. The team originally developed the innovations around lead acid batteries, found in internal combustion engine vehicles, boats and many other uses, but have now developed the technology to also recycle lithium batteries found in electric vehicles and hybrids. With the projected massive increase in EV use and the general electrification of energy systems in response to climate change, this innovation promises to be increasingly relevant and to meet a growing market demand.
OperAid: the OperAid software is designed to reduce human error in operations and increase operational assurance. The software provides an automated audit trail of work as prescribed in Standard Operating Procedures (SOP), checklists, isolation (lockout/tagout) procedures and pre-start-up safety reviews (PSSR). By reducing the potential for human error in complex oil, gas and petrochemical operational processes the system could help improve process safety and reduce potential environmental impacts and loss of life. The software verifies work as it is executed and therefore helps prevent field mistakes in real time.
Carbon Neutral Hydrogen: the NewGen project is probably already well known to many people in the energy sector and beyond. NewGen will produce hydrogen through the electrolysis of water using electricity supplied from green and energy-efficient power sources. While the technology that drives the electrolysis is not new, the project takes an innovative approach to securing the necessary electricity from carbon neutral sources and providing the hydrogen as feedstock to the existing ammonia industry in Point Lisas. The project is a major investment and will have a significant climate impact, removing approximately 165,000 metric tonnes of Co2 per year compared to the current process.
Ecosystem partnerships to create microbial oil-degraders: a team comprising Dr. Sephra N. Rampersad and Amanda C. Ramdass from the University of the West Indies have developed novel biosurfactants and biocatalysts that are produced in an ecosystem partnership among specific microbial oil-degraders that are indigenous to Trinidad which have been isolated from several natural crude oil seeps and Marac-Moruga Mud Volcano. These biosurfactants and biocatalysts can be used to safely clean crude oil sludge from the bottom of tanks, pipelines and other pieces of equipment in an environmentally friendly manner. These oil degraders help reduce residues in equipment and improve performance and efficiency and could be used to clean up polluted environments.
Sustainable, clean, climate resilient energy: Energy Dynamics Ltd. submitted details of their projects in Jamaica as an example of their innovative approach to delivering sustainable and energy efficient solutions. Their innovative approach uses waste heat from LNG generators to run absorption chillers and significantly reduce the energy used for cooling. Solar energy with battery storage can also be incorporated into their project delivery approach, which delivers significant energy savings, lower carbon emissions and lower costs. One example of their approach has been at the Mona Campus of the University of the West Indies.
While the remaining twelve submissions will, unfortunately, not have the opportunity to present at the T&T Energy Conference 2022 details on all of the submissions and contact details of the teams will be provide to delegates, in case anybody wants further information or to follow-up with the relevant project teams.
