BASSETERRE, St. Kitts –- THE government of the twin-island Federation is in the process of finalising a deal to develop a Wind Farm on St. Kitts to drive its energy policy.
The policy consists mainly of geothermal energy, solar and wind energy as well as energy wastage, initiatives upon which the government is focusing its attention.
Speaking recently with SKNVibes, Minister of Energy Dr. Earl Asim Martin explained that the government is in discussion with a Caribbean developer for the establishment of the island’s first Wind Farm.
“We are in discussion with Nevis; for example, they have developed a Wind Farm. Here in St. Kitts we are in the process of finalising some discussions with North Star in signing a contract so we can have the establishment of the first Wind Farm in St. Kitts.”
The government has however moved briskly in the area of solar energy, with the construction of a Solar Farm at the RLB International Airport. This, the Minister said, was complimented by private sector entities installing solar panels within their individual business establishments.
“We have had certain private businesses abiding to the project and install solar panels on their roof top.”
Moreover, the Housing Commission is also expected to continue with the trend of installing these devices on all newly-constructed homes as a means of conserving on energy and minimising wastage.
The Minister explained that that initiative is a way of conserving energy on the island, which allows authorities to keep an eye on the Carbon Foot Print.
“We have been working with the Solid Waste Management Corporation, as a means of working in a phased approach in moving in terms of waste to energy.”
“In terms of geothermal, we had discussions with the Nevis Island Administration as a mean of identifying where we are on information sharing as a means of seeing how we can work together to see how quickly we would be able to roll out our geothermal in the Federation,” Martin stated.
According to Minister Martin, geothermal energy is currently seen as a way for the country to cut cost, since it provides a “constant base load of energy”.
