This Technology Transfer Advances Antigua and Barbuda's
- Nationally Determined Contribution to "enhance the established enabling legal, policy and institutional environment for a low carbon emission development pathway to achieve poverty reduction and sustainable development".
- Sustainable Energy Action Plan
- 2010 National Energy Policy
Context
Antigua and Barbuda currently generates nearly all of its electricity from imported fossil fuels, resulting in high costs and greenhouse gas emissions. The government of Antigua and Barbuda is addressing these challenges through several goals and policies. The 2010 National Energy Policy contains goals to reduce energy costs, diversify from fossil fuels, and develop new technologies and sectors. The 2013 Sustainable Energy Action plan builds off of the 2010 policy by providing a comprehensive roadmap for renewable energy and energy efficiency policy development, with recommendations for the creation of certain government institutions, policies, and proposed budgets.
Technology Request
The Environment Department within Antigua and Barbuda's Ministry of Health and the Environment requested support in identifying relevant energy efficient and renewable energy technologies and the development of a workforce strategy to mobilize local labor for implementation projects in fulfillment of the country’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC).
CTCN Support
The CTCN and partner, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), provided the following technology assistance in Antigua and Barbuda:
- In-country assessment of Antigua and Barbuda’s energy context, clean renewable energy deployment goals, NDC priorities, current barriers, and possible policy, market or other solutions, including those for mobilizing private sector investment;
- Analysis of recommendations for renewable energy technologies (such as solar photovoltaic and wind power) and suppliers; and
- Development of a workforce strategy identifying short, medium, and long term actions for Antigua and Barbuda to enhance local capacity to implement priority energy sector projects that can help the country to meet its Nationally Determined Contribution.
- The workforce strategy includes the purpose and objectives, a budget for programme development and implementation, and key stakeholders and their roles in implementation. The document also describes the expected workforce breakdown, a baseline skills profile of the islands of Antigua and Barbuda, and anticipated areas of skills shortages. The strategy further defines the objectives of the workforce and training activities, as well as actions needed to achieve these objectives. The document then goes on to note potential partner organizations, including regional and international finance and development institutions.
For further details, please see Documents section below.
Key technologies addressed
Expected Impact
Short Term
- The following technologies were prioritized as leading opportunities for Antigua and Barbuda to develop their local workforce, in line with its NDC:
- Renewable energy electricity generation
- Solar PV
- Wind
- Waste to energy
- Energy efficiency and resiliency
- Energy efficiency and resilient retrofits
- Energy efficiency and resilient new buildings
- Solar hot water
- The Technical Advisory Committee, a multistakeholder committee that includes seventeen government departments with responsibilities for environment, waste, energy, water, land management, development, and standards; three nongovernmental organizations; and one private sector coalition representative validated the CTCN workforce strategy.
- The relevant ministries of Antigua and Barbuda plan to utilize the workforce strategy to develop training components of future energy projects to be developed; and
- The Department of Environment improved capacity of to support implementation of national energy policies and goals such as the design of future renewable energy projects and programs.
Medium Term
- Diversified energy mix which moves away from total reliance on fossil fuels;
- Decreased energy costs due to enhanced competition among energy providers and utilizing lower cost resources, including renewable energy; and
- Encouraging economic development with increased private sector participation in developing new energy projects.
Long Term
- Increased energy independence away from imported fuels;
- Enhanced climate resiliency through the deployment of hurricane resistant energy generation and off grid technologies; and
- Reduced GHG emissions by diversifying the country's energy mix to include greater amounts of solar PV, and wind, and other clean energy sources.
Gender Considerations
In general, women are often underrepresented in the energy sector. In line with equal employment principles, the workforce strategy actively encourages the participation of women and under-represented groups in all sectors of the workforce. The Directorate of Gender Affairs; Community Development Division; and the Professional Organization for Women in Antigua and Barbuda are identified in the strategy as potential leads in the implementation and oversight of the engagement of women in Antigua and Barbuda's energy workforce development.
