Nevis Soon to Become the “Greenest” Island in the Caribbean
The tiny Island of Nevis is on the verge of becoming the “greenest” island in the Caribbean as it sits on the threshold of harnessing geothermal energy not only for its own needs but also for the neighboring islands in the Eastern Caribbean.
In a recent interview with Nevis’ Junior Minister of Natural Resources and the Environment Carlisle Powell, he disclosed that studies were done ten years ago by the US Energy Department and the Organization of American States (OAS) that indicated that Nevis has the potential to produce 900 megawatts of electricity, which is perhaps much more than Nevis will ever need. Currently, the island only consumes 9 megawatts of power.
This geothermal project will create power through the drilling of three geothermal wells and the installation of steam turbine power units thereby reducing greenhouse gas emission and contributing to the efforts of damaging climate changes.
Powell, who is also responsible for public utilities, confidentially predicted that the production of geothermal energy in Nevis will begin in 2010 and estimated that it will cost about US$50 million to bring the project on line. When the geothermal plant is fully up and running, Nevis is expected to produce 35 megawatts of electricity.
This project is one of several major initiatives undertaken by the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) of Premier Joseph Parry, who took office three years ago.
The 36-square-mile island, which forms part of the Twin-Island Federation of St. Kitts and Nevis, does not have the financial and technical resources to undertake this ambitious project and subsequently has reached out to regional and international agencies and institutions for assistance.
These include the United Nations Development Program, the Caribbean Community and the University of the West Indies and the University of New Zealand.
The Environment Minister Carlisle Powell said, “Nevis has also sought advice from developed countries that already produce geothermal energy and have the expertise and experience in this rapidly growing industry as the world seeks cheaper and more sustainable forms of energy.”
According to Minister Powell, Iceland that produces about 15 percent of its electricity from geothermal sources has been instrumental in providing assistance and technical expertise to the tourism dependent Island.
Earlier this year, a major geothermal conference was held on Nevis. The event attracted over 100 experts from as far a field as Germany, Mexico, Iceland New Zealand and the USA. According to officials of the Nevis Island Administration (NIA), the aims of the conference were to educate the people of Nevis on the importance of this project and to share the (geothermal) knowledge gained with other countries.
