The Role of Renewable Energy in a Small Island Petroleum-Based Economy

摘要

Trinidad and Tobago, as a petroleum based economy paid little attention to the development of its new and renewable resources. However there has been a shift in policy to ensure that this area becomes a priority resource sector. This trust is being driven by concerns for energy conservation and environmental protection, both locally and globally. The improving economics of many of the commercial forms of renewable energy is fuelling an increasing momentum to substitute our non-renewable petroleum resources with renewable energy sources. This country's natural gas reserves at January 1,1999 stood at 19.8 trillion cubic feet and has a reserve life of 47 years. New and renewable energy sources are presently being utilised to meet local pockets of unsatisfied demand; and in the future to supplement natural gas as its supply is depleted. There are communities in outlying areas of Trinidad and Tobago, away from the electrical grid, that can and do benefit from new and renewable energy based technologies. In Trinidad and Tobago, solar energy and wind energy offer the greatest potential. This paper explores the possibilities and the difficulty of deepening the utilisation of these forms of energy in Trinidad and Tobago. Other forms of renewable energy sources will also be considered.