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Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative
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The Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative (GSEII) is a consortium of international NGOs and multi-lateral institutions that supports the interests of small island developing states (SIDS) as they grapple with the current and projected effects of climate change.1
While small island nations generate some of the lowest levels of greenhouse gases in the world, they are among the most vulnerable to climate change due to their susceptibility to extreme weather events and low-lying geography. The GSEII believes SIDS are uniquely placed to become models for other nations as they combat climate change, both because SIDS will experience climate change more quickly and drastically than other nations, and because their relatively small scale and low levels of energy consumption mean that it's possible to more quickly and thoroughly implementation energy efficiency and renewable energy projects.2
The GSEII was founded in 2000 by the Climate Institute, the Organization of American States, the Energy and Security Group, Winrock International and Counterpart International3 , and is funded by various partners such as the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, the US Department of Energy, and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO). In recent years the Initiative has focused on renewable energy and energy efficiency projects on the islands of St. Lucia, Dominica, Grenada, and St. Kitts and Nevis in the Caribbean; and the Marshall Islands and Fiji in the Pacific.
Objectives
In order to meet the energy and climate challenges of island nations, the GSEII has worked with islands to foster collaboration and consensus in support of renewable energy and energy efficiency projects, models, and concepts.4 The GSEII aims to steer up to twenty Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) members toward a cleaner, more sustainable energy economy. Specific objectives include reducing dependence on fossil fuels and related trade deficits, reducing environmental degradation, fostering private investment, and enhancing socioeconomic development.5 They argue that increased renewable resources can also greatly enhance energy security and independence of SIDS, as they import the majority of their fuel from foreign countries and have poor access to electricity in rural areas.6
The Initiative aims to work with island states in order to lay out projects that increase energy sustainability, recommend policy and regulatory measures, establish targets and timetables for action, develop industry capability and partners for project design and implementation, and secure capital for funding.7 It also seeks to showcases efforts by SIDS in order to promote climate action plans among larger nations.
Projects
Saint Lucia announced its plan to become the first Sustainable Energy Demonstration Country in November 2000, at the Sixth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 6) of the UNFCCC.8 Since this time, various small island states in the Caribbean and Pacific have taken up action plans based on the Saint Lucian example.
Saint Lucia
The GSEII has supported various initiatives on St. Lucia to increase energy efficiency and access to renewable energy resources. These include:9
- Energy Efficient Lighting Project: In partnership with the Climate Institute and Climate Care of the United Kingdom, the St. Lucian Ministry of Planning distributed 6,000 compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs) to St. Lucian homes and businesses. CFLs greatly reduce demand for energy and the associated production of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions.
- Energy Audits & Training Project for Hotel Industry: A series of workshops was held in February 2004 to increase awareness of energy management within the hospitality industry. As tourism provides the backbone of the St. Lucian economy, hospitality is an important sector to target to help reduce GHG emissions.
- Wind Farm: St. Lucia has strong winds on its eastern shore that can be harnessed as a renewable energy resource. The GSEII is supporting the creation of a windfarm at Point de Caille, which has a target installed capacity of about 4.25 MW.
- Landfill Gas to Energy Project: Solid waste management authorities are researching the possibility of generating electricity from the Ciceron landfill in St. Lucia, which closed after 11 years of operation. The electricity could be fed into the current grid.
Dominica
The island of Dominica aims to follow the Saint Lucian example, but remains several years behind in planning and implementation. However, Dominica enjoys the advantage of a great wealth of renewable resources such as wind and hydroelectricity, and renewable resources currently meet about 1/3 of the nation's energy demand. Previous projects that gone forward with GSEII support include:10
- Energy Efficiency Lighting Project: A March 2006 energy lighting project implemented energy awareness activities and distributed 200 CFLs in a local Dominican community, with 5,000 CFLs planned for future distribution.
- Energy Efficiency in DOMLEC Distribution System: The Dominica Electricity Services Limited (DOMLEC), which operates as the national power utility, is implementing a project that strives to reduce the enormous energy inefficiencies present in the nation's distribution system. DOMLEC proposed the construction of a new transmission line and greater management in order to decrease energy waste.
Grenada
While potentially a source of undiscovered gas and oil resources, Grenada also has great potential to utilize various renewable resources such as wind, biomass, geothermal, hydroelectric, and solar energy. Other possibilities include solar water heaters and using agricultural waste to generate biomass energy. Previous projects in Grenada, which have had GSEII support, include:11
- Nutmeg Shell to Energy Project: As nutmeg is a huge source of income for Grenadans, their shells provide a large source of biomass energy. While a project was set in motion in 2004, Hurricane Ivan destroyed an enormous number of nutmeg trees and the project has been stalled.
- 225 kW Wind Turbine on Carriacou Island: Parts of Grenada possess ample wind resources, and several plans have been proposed to build large wind turbines on Carricaou Island.
- Earth Home Project: In response to Hurricane Ivan in 2004, which damaged about 90% of the country's infrastructure, the Earth Home Project set out to support housing projects where the home is fully integrated to supply resources such as electricity, hot water, cooking, and sewer systems using local materials.
St. Kitts and Nevis
St. Kitts and Nevis is a more recent addition to GSEII projects and planning. Sustainable energy initiatives there include:12
- Geothermal Energy Development: The GSEII partners have implemented the Eastern Caribbean Geothermal Development Project or the “Geo-Caraïbes”, which is led by the OAS. The project seeks to develop geothermal power sources on the islands.
- Domestic Bio-Energy Program: St. Kitts and Nevis halted sugarcane production in 2004 due to concerns over the industry's economic viability. The GSEII is researching possibilities for a renewal of the sugarcane industry in order to produce ethanol for transportation fuel and bagasse as another energy feedstock.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) Wiki Project | |
| Small Island Developing States | |
| Click here for the template to begin a new country page | |
| Atlantic and Caribbean | Anguilla; Antigua and Barbuda; Aruba; the Bahamas; Barbados; Belize; British Virgin Islands; Cape Verde; Cuba; Dominica; the Dominican Republic; Grenada; Guinea-Bissau; Guyana; Haiti; Jamaica; Montserrat; Netherlands Antilles; Puerto Rico; Saint Kitts and Nevis; Saint Lucia; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; São Tomé and Principe; Suriname; Trinidad and Tobago; and the U.S. Virgin Islands. |
| Pacific Ocean | American Somoa; Commonwealth of Northern Marianas; Cook Islands; Federated States of Micronesia; Fiji; French Polynesia; Guam; Kiribati; Marshall Islands; Nauru; New Caledonia; Niue; Palau; Papua New Guinea; Samoa; Solomon Islands; Timor-Lesté; Tonga; Tuvalu; and Vanuatu. |
| Indian Ocean | Bahrain; Comoros; the Maldives; Mauritius; the Seychelles; and Singapore. |
| Initiatives and Sponsors | |
| Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS); Asian Development Bank (ADB); Barbados Programme of Action (BPoA); Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre (CCCCC); Global Environment Facility (GEF); Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative (GSEII); Inter-American Development Bank (IADB); Organization of American States (OAS); Pacific Islands Forum (PIF); Red Cross/Red Crescent Climate Centre (RC/RCCC); Small Island Developing States Network (SIDSNet); South Pacific Regional Environment Program (SPREP); United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC); United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO); United States Agency for International Development (USAID); World Bank (WB) | |
| Related Topics | |
Footnotes
1. : Climate Institute: Programs/Activities. Retrieved on: 12 April 2009.
2. : Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative Website. Homepage. Retrieved on: 12 April 2009.
3. : Tom Roper, Small Island States Energy Initiative at the Climate Institute. Energy Release. Retrieved on: 12 April 2009.
4. : Organization of American States. Towards an Effective Sustainable Development Program for the Caribbean Organization of American States. March 31, 2009. Final Background Note, p. 3.
5. : Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative Website. About GSEII.Retrieved on: 12 April 2009.
6. : Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative Website. Homepage. Retrieved on: 12 April 2009.
7. : Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative Website. About GSEII.Retrieved on: 12 April 2009.
8. : Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative Website. The Islands.Retrieved on: 14 April 2009.
9. : Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative Website. St. Lucia.Retrieved on: 14 April 2009.
10. : Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative Website. Dominica.Retrieved on: 14 April 2009.
11. : Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative Website. Grenada.Retrieved on: 14 April 2009.
12. : Global Sustainable Energy Islands Initiative Website. St. Kitts and Nevis. Retrieved on: 14 April 2009.
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