This refers to news item ‘Committee shines light on National Energy Policy’ (Caymanian Compass, 28 October, 2011), committee may consider the following points. Allow captive solar and/or wind power generation by hotels, commercial establishments and individual homeowners. Solar water heaters for homes will result in conservation of energy. The power generated by hotels and commercial establishments can be used by them and any excess can be fed in to the grid for banking it for future use. CUC may be allowed to levy a nominal charge for use of its distribution network for the use of energy banked. To reduce the use of energy for desalination rainwater harvesting may be considered. Rainwater can be used for non-potable purpose without any treatment and for drinking after treatment.
I support Mr. Boucher’s contention that wind power is a good option for the Cayman Islands. However, solar and wind power stations will have to be designed to withstand the hurricanes and storms.
It is to be noted that generation of power by burning any fuel results in environmental damage. Therefore along with energy policy a National Environment Policy may be a good idea.
MK Pande
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While wind and solar are very attractive sustainable resources, they are very problematic for an island in the Atlantic hurricane zone. A much better solution to reducing the Island’s overall carbon footprint is for the larger hotels and resorts to generate their own electricity from diesel gen sets and capture the hot exhaust gases for steam and hot water production. Steam is typically used for laundry operations and preheating the domestic hot water will both reduce diesel consumption on-island overall.
Combined heat and power, CHP, will also reduce overall operational expenses.