Andrea Perez-Sobers
Senior Reporter
andrea.perez-sobers@guardian.co.tt
The Caribbean has great potential to become a world power in renewable energy, ANSA McAL group CEO Anthony N Sabga III said yesterday.
The ANSA McAL group has been focused on finding commercially viable renewable energy projects that will contribute to energy security.
Addressing the company’s workshop at the Energy Conference 2024: “Realising a Sustainable Energy Future for Trinidad & Tobago and the Caribbean: 2030 and Beyond”, at the Hyatt Regency, Sabga gave insight into his dream to have cruise ship tours starting from the Port of Port-of-Spain heading north, using vessels fuelled by hydrogen thereby promoting greener energy while also creating greater employment opportunities.
“In addition to wind and hydrocarbons, these vessels will be powered by hydrogen and electricity produced via a Caribbean-wide connected grid. Fully baselined by wind, solar, hydro, and geothermal energy from our vast and present renewable resources. The mass employment coming from all of this would powerfully impact crime and other impediments to social developments, in our country and across the region,” the CEO remarked.
Guyana President Irfaan Ali delivered an address at the conference, but again highlighted that renewable projects required major capital.
But Sabga said if these plans are acted upon, such a plan could attract international investment.
“The excess supply of hydrogen from the Caribbean would also be a highly sought-after and traded commodity in the global markets. So, combine this with the cruise ship industry for the earnings, the foreign earnings of the cruise ship industry and we become economically sustainable. I heard His Excellency mention a lot as to what it cost. I also have a dream that we would need not do any of this on our own.”
Sabga said these plans can only become reality if acted upon and he noted ANSA McAL has taken steps to create some level of energy sustainability following its investment in a solar farm in Costa Rica in 2021. It made further strides following an agreement with Kenesjay Green Ltd, which was signed during the recently held COP 28 in a bid to accelerate green energy projects in the region.
“What struck me at COP 28, was the sense of urgency amongst the business, government, and NGOs present. Impressively, I also saw how the Caribbean was deeply engaged in being heard in the conversation. Highlighting both our region’s vulnerability and the adverse effects of climate change and the leadership and the leadership opportunity to be an active part of the green economy,” Sabga explained.
Delving more into the green energy aspect, he said speed has particular relevance when one considers hydrogen production.
“The scale-up of hydrogen technology is the subject of significant research, however, the main challenge is not the process. Existing hydrogen technology has a proven track record and can form the basis for new plants. At our subsidiary ANSA Chemicals, we have been in the practice of electrolysing water for decades, to make chlorine and bleach. We are now aiming to use emergent fuel cell technology and the hydrogen currently produced by that plant during the electrolysis process, to create a close loop energy feedstock system for the plant. The project is very much in line with our business sustainability thrust as a group,” Sabga said.