T&T, US sign deal on ‘clean’ energy

Trinidad and Tobago and the United States Department of Energy have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to facilitate cooperation on scientific, technical and policy aspects of energy efficiency and clean energy technologies through the exchange of ideas and information.

The MOU commits both countries to establish a Renewable Energy Research centre, to be located at the St Augustine Campus of The University of the West Indies. The intention of this centre will be to promote the rapid deployment of critical technologies for renewable energy in the Caribbean, the Office of the Prime Minister said in a statement yesterday.

The MOU announcement followed the visit to Trinidad and Tobago yesterday of United States Vice-President Joe Biden to meet Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar and other Government officials.

“Trinidad and Tobago (T&T) stands to benefit greatly from the establishment of the Regional Renewable Energy Research Centre (CREC) with support from the United States Department of Energy (USDOE),” the Office of the Prime Minister said. “This provides T&T with the opportunity to partner with a developed country, which is a global leader in green energy technology, for knowledge transfer and information exchange.  This can be used to implement targeted and effective Research and Development (R&D) programmes, which can spur local green technology innovation and ultimately support the development of a resilient local green energy technology industry. Partnerships between local and US companies will allow for capacity building, and will promote local entrepreneurship in renewable energy.”

The incorporation of renewables into the local energy mix will lead to reduced local dependence on hydrocarbons, which means that more locally produced hydrocarbons will be available for exports, the statement added.

Express