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EU - Caribbean Thematic Priority Setting Workshop "Research and Innovation in

ENERGY”

Authors: MENON Network,

EUCARINET Caribbean partners

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Copyright notice:

Copyright © APRE.

EUCARINET (Strengthening sustainable scientific cooperation between Europe and the Caribbean) is a project co-funded

by the European Commission in its 7th Framework Programme under the Grant Agreement no 244510 running from 1st

April. 2010 to 30th March 2014.

The information contained in this document reflects only the author's views and the Community is not liable for any use

that may be made of the information contained therein.

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Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5

Topics, research lines and mutual benefit issues discussed during the Workshop ...................................................................................... 6

Topics and Research lines discussed .......................................................................................................................................................... 7

GEOTHERMAL- ...................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Gaps................................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Benefit ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 7

Research lines proposed: .................................................................................................................................................................... 7

PHOTOVOLTAIC- .................................................................................................................................................................................... 7

Gaps................................................................................................................................................................................................... 8

Benefit ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 8

Research line proposed: ..................................................................................................................................................................... 8

WIND - .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Gaps................................................................................................................................................................................................... 9

Benefit ................................................................................................................................................................................................ 9

Research lines proposed: .................................................................................................................................................................. 10

ENERGY EFFICIENCY ......................................................................................................................................................................... 10

Research lines .................................................................................................................................................................................. 10

Gaps................................................................................................................................................................................................. 10

Benefit .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 10

Research lines proposed ................................................................................................................................................................... 10

COOLING .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Gaps................................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Benefit .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 11

Research lines proposed: .................................................................................................................................................................. 11

GRIDS/ELECTRICITY NETWORKS ....................................................................................................................................................... 12

Gaps................................................................................................................................................................................................. 12

Benefit .............................................................................................................................................................................................. 12

Research line proposed .................................................................................................................................................................... 12

BIOFUELS .......................................................................................................................................................................................... 13

Gaps................................................................................................................................................................................................. 13

Benefits ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 13

Proposed research lines .................................................................................................................................................................... 14

CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER ....................................................................................................................................................... 14

KNOWLEDGE FOR ENERGY POLICY MAKING .......................................................................................................................................... 14

TABLE OF CONTENTS

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EU - Caribbean thematic priority setting Workshop "Research and

innovation in energy"

-Report-

Université des Antilles et de la Guyane,

Pointe-à-Pitre, Guadeloupe, 6-7 July, 2011

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Introduction

European and Caribbean countries share the challenge of reducing their CO2 emissions and providing respective

societies with low carbon technologies, able to make their living conditions greener and more sustainable.

Despite of some relevant differences within the Caribbean area and with the European countries (in terms of energy

research development, local priorities and link between the research and the industry), both regions have adopted

programmes and initiatives in order to tackle this issue, identifying needs and technologies to provide sustainability in

their use and development of energy sources.

On a bilateral level, the European Union and the Latin American countries adopted, in the occasion of the sixth EU/LAC

meeting, the EU-LAC Action Plan 2010-2012, identifying some key areas and activities in the framework of a common

Work Plan, to be implemented by 2012. Among them, the area 3 is related to: “Sustainable development, environment,

climate change biodiversity and energy1”.

At European level, the European Commission adopted, in 2008 the SET-Plan, Strategic Energy Plan, aiming at

accelerating knowledge development, technology transfer and up-take in the energy sector, fostering at the same time

science for transforming energy technologies to achieve the 2020 Energy and Climate Change goals2. A specific “volet”

on International Cooperation makes part of the Programme, even if US, Japan, China and India represent the main focus

in the current activities.

The CARICOM (Caribbean Community) on its side, has agreed that a more targeted approach and strategic framework

are needed and is therefore now developing a Caribbean Sustainable Energy

Roadmap and Strategy (C-SERMS), to establish a regional roadmap and strategy approach to for advancing sustainable

energy (renewable energy and energy efficiency).

Further initiatives and energy programmes, taken at national or regional level (the Energy Plan of the Regional Council of

Guadeloupe among them) represent concrete efforts by public institutions in order to contribute to the development

and adoption of new energy technologies.

This document reports the results of the “EU - Caribbean thematic priority setting Workshop: Research and innovation in

energy”, promoted by the EUCARINET project and held in Guadeloupe on the 6-7 July, 2011. The event aimed at

identifying research lines and scientific priorities of common interest and benefit, by learning from Caribbean

researchers. This was the last of four workshops foreseen by the project, the previous ones having taken place in Santo

Domingo in March 2011 and having focused on Health, KBBE and Environment.

1 1The following “Expected results are mentioned in the Action plan: “Implementation of projects, in areas such as energy effic iency

and saving and renewable energy,… leading to increased regional integration and social inclusion and cohesion, including technological transfer and innovation when appropriate. 2 The EU aims to reach its 20-20-20 goals by 2020, that is: a 20% reduction of CO2 emissions, a 20% share of energy from low-carbon

energy sources and 20% reduction in the use of primary energy by improving energy efficiency

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Expert name Expert role Organisation

Marie Ange Arsene Caribbean Energy Scientific Expert UAG – Université des Antilles et de Guyane

Ruddy Blonbou Caribbean Energy Scientific Expert UAG – Université des Antilles et de Guyane

Joseph Williams Caribbean Energy Scientific Expert CARICOM – Caribbean Community

Oswin Martina Caribbean Energy Scientific Expert University of Curaçao

José Antonio Vanderhorst-Silverio Caribbean Energy Scientific Expert EWPC-AF -Electricity Without Price Controls (Architecture Framework

Pedro Almonte Caribbean Energy Scientific Expert UNIBE – Universidad Iberoamericana

Iindra Haraksingh Caribbean Energy Scientific Expert UWI – University of West Indies

Claude Martin McNamarah Caribbean Energy Scientific Expert UWI – University of West Indies

Bernard Sanjuan European Energy Scientific Expert BRGM - Bureau de Recherches Géologiques et Minières

Keji Alex Adunmo EUCARINET Team APRE – Agenzia per la Promozione della Ricerca Europea

Jimena Arango EUCARINET Team MENON Network

Jean Heinrich Daugrois EUCARINET Team CIRAD – Centre de coopération internationale en recherche agronomique pour le développement

Marco Carulli EU Expert ENEA – Italian National agency for New technologies, Energy and Sustainable economic development

Topics, research lines and mutual benefit issues discussed during the Workshop

The workshop’s discussions, based on the presentation of a group of experienced researchers from the Caribbean

countries, lead to the identification of some topics of importance for potential EU/Car cooperation reflecting, at the

same time, the strengths and weaknesses of each region. A quite variegated set of research areas were presented, the

researchers providing with a good overview on the current state of the art of the energy research in the Caribbean3.

Several topics were on mutual interest and the potential added values of bilateral research cooperation were spotted.

The following research lines and priorities were identified in the framework of energy technologies currently being

developed in the region.

3 The coverage of topics may not be complete and other research themes may integrate those discussed in the occasion of the

workshop.

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Topics and Research lines discussed

GEOTHERMAL-

The Caribbean region presents high geothermal potential to produce electricity in most of its islands. Despite this, only

one power station is currently operative (Bouillante, in Guadeloupe), geothermal energy exploration remaining relatively

new for many of the Caribbean islands (the island of Nevis is trying to develop the use of its GE resource in a short term).

The possibility of exploiting geothermal energy for producing electricity and cooling systems in a sustainable way

represents a valuable research line that, if further exploited and implemented at regional level, could lead to positive

outcomes (both in terms of CO2 emissions and economic interests). Research is currently going on in the drilling aspects

of geothermal energy, the knowledge and access to geothermal resources and the understanding of the geothermal

reservoirs.

Gaps

It is important for the region, to develop appropriate methods and tools to better know and understand the geothermal

resources, reduce the drilling costs, develop binary and cooling systems, especially for those countries presenting some

geothermal potentials and not having already exploited this source. The potential of geothermal resources provided by

volcanoes should be further explored, possibly focusing the research on the geological issue of instability of the

reservoirs, on groundwater supplies and on the development of geothermal pumps.

Benefit

Potential benefit for a cooperation between the two regions could be based on the energy derived from geothermal

resources present in this area: current French project (aiming at linking the two French Oversea Territories of

Guadeloupe and Martinique to Dominica through grids fed by geothermal generated energy) could be an aspect

providing the whole region with a sustainable source of energy, as well as potential economic profitability in the

realization of grids linking different islands for Europe. Further focus on geothermal could be interesting for its use

related to house cooling.

Research lines proposed:

1. “Development of High Temperature Geothermal Energy in the

volcanic Caribbean islands in order to produce electricity and

cooling systems and reduce CO2 emissions following a high quality

environment procedure” 2. “Geothermal energy development and

exploitation for the whole Caribbean region”

PHOTOVOLTAIC-

Due to the geographical position and the climate conditions of

the Caribbean countries, several research institutes are carrying

out research in the photovoltaic sector. The University of West

Indies, in particular, is involved in some research lines on the

Figure 1 Lycée Haute Qualité Environnementale de Port de Louise - Guadeloupe

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performance of PV under tropical climatic conditions, with special regard to cells’ performance and system sizing and

design. Research, in particular, is currently focused on and manufacturing techniques on energy yield within the

Caribbean environmental context. Another research line carried out by UWI aims at determining the factors affecting

the dye sensitized solar cells. The PV related research activity at UAG focuses on the development of operational tools to

deal with the intermittent nature of PV electricity that limits its penetration rate in island utility grids and causes the

optimal sizing of autonomous PV based power supply system difficult.

Gaps

Deeper knowledge on PV systems’ performance, as well as on manufacturing processes are needed, public funding

available for research organizations still being not relevant enough. Although the effects of climate on PV performance is

recognised, an initial investigation has also shown that for modules made of a given PV material, the manufacturing

processes and constituent cell specifications can also drastically affect power yield. This area of research is greatly

underrepresented and would allow for optimizing module design.

An active area of research is the modeling of the processes within dye sensitized cells. While the commercially available

dyes have very high electron excitation efficiency (upwards of 90%), the overall efficiency of the cell is very low. The

drawdown in efficiency is generally attributed to the losses in electron transfer between the dye and the titanium oxide.

An understanding of the factors that affect the electron mobility within this complex cell is essential to improve the

performance.

Benefit

Manufacturing systems and testing technologies developed in the European countries can be a potential area of

collaboration between the two regions, considering the common climate and environmental factors that some of the

southern European countries share with the Caribbean. Further, with regard to the second research line, a lot of

research is currently going on in Europe with regard to materials for Photovoltaic. Being the research carried out in

Jamaica, based on the exploration of new materials (titanium oxide among them) collaboration between the two regions

could represent an interesting framework of collaboration also for the European countries and research organizations

that are already working in this domain.

Research line proposed:

“Photovoltaic module performance under Caribbean conditions”

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WIND -

Due to the specific climatic and thermal conditions in the Caribbean area, special applications of wind turbines are

currently being explored in some of these countries. Said

conditions can have an effect on the integrity and safety of

the small wind generators, like thermal, photochemical,

corrosive, mechanical, electrical actions or other physical

actions. Further, it has to be considered that local storms and

tropical hurricanes represent an obstacle in the deployment of

“ordinary” wind turbines on the Caribbean and Central

America territory, subjecting the turbines to resist extreme

wind speeds in a short time. Some solutions have already

been adopted, like in Guadeloupe, where, in the case of

hurricane alert, some Wind turbines can be rapidly brought on

the ground and then re-assembled or like in Cuba, where

some research centers have produced prototypes fitting to

local conditions and where wind turbines tower can be lying

during hurricanes. This technology was already tested in

extreme wind speed conditions with acceptable results in the Isla de la Juventud, Cuba. Cuba has had enough experience

in the evaluation and measurement of the wind resource using more than 80 measurement wind tower along the

country. Four wind farms are installed in Cuba with different technology to testing them, totalling 11.7 MW.

Gaps

In the Caribbean region there seems to be no real manufacturing of Small Wind Turbines (the majority of manufacturers

coming from Europe, China and United States) and the experience in the design of this machines is very limited, real

training of staff still being needed. On the other hand, it is necessary to adapt and developed small wind technology to

be work with low wind speed, and to carefully evaluate natural conditions that may affect the performance and

durability of wind farms: aggressive corrosive humid tropical climate with high exposure characteristics of marine,

coastal flood risk caused by storm and hurricanes; risk of corrosion; risk of geological instability caused by the geological

structures of the region and for being in a region of moderate seismic risk.

Benefit

A lot of the research currently carried out in Europe relates to the offshore wind as well as to the materials of the

turbine. Presenting similar conditions as the Caribbean (i.e, the presence of the sea and saline water), common

collaboration could be of interest for the European research, currently focusing on better adaptation of wind power

electronics to the marine environment. The transfer of the European experiences can be very useful for the

development and adaptation of small wind turbines to the Caribbean and Central American region climate conditions

and the creation of capacities for local industrial development in this area.

Figure 2 Mechanic Retractable System in Wind farm - Grand Maison, Guadeloupe.

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Research lines proposed:

“Design and manufacture of small wind turbines for Caribbean and Central American area (CAC area) climate

conditions“

ENERGY EFFICIENCY

Given the particular climatic conditions of the Caribbean

countries, a lot of research and testing is currently in progress.

Smart and rationale use of energy seems to be at the top of the

agenda in this energy sector, considering also the intensive use

of air conditioning in residential and tourism buildings. Some

disparities seem to be present in the Caribbean countries, with

regard to this topic. In the Dominican Republic and in

Guadeloupe some

Research lines

Are considering sustainable methodologies to better respond

to energy efficiencies in residential buildings. Methodologies

and technologies currently being analyzed relate to concepts such as housing passive thermal protection, intelligent

power dispatching, energy storage optimization and monitoring.

Gaps

Legislation and regulations (with parameters specific for the Caribbean countries) seem to affect a harmonized and

shared methodology for the deployment of concrete and efficient energy efficiency rules. Specific information for each

territory in order to establish potential for improvement in efficiency through greater use of RET and EET is currently

missing. Furthermore, awareness arising through communication and promotional campaigns is an aspect that should

be taken into consideration (the EU Interreg Caraibes and Energy Intelligent Europe have been identified as possible

tools for funding such promotional initiatives in the region).

Benefit

Building designs and performance benchmarks have been addressed a long time in many European countries: working

together on this issue, could be of benefit for southern European countries, which could exploit the findings and results

on such benchmarks, to be developed in the Caribbean.

Research lines proposed

1. “Establishing Performance Benchmarks for Energy Efficient or Low Carbon Commercial Buildings in CARICOM”, 2.

“Housing passive thermal protection”.

Figure 3 Wind Farm Transformer - Grand maison, Guadeloupe

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COOLING

Caribbean countries share similar climatic conditions and energy

profiles, solar insolation representing a critical factor and

houses/districts cooling being a key research focus for the region. Lot

of efforts in the energy research area are currently focusing on the

conditioning of the residential and tourism buildings, possibly

exploiting techniques related to geothermal sources or solar thermal.

Researchers also see the presence of sea water in the region as a

potential benefit for the cooling of residential and industries districts

through its use (capital and pumping representing the main

challenges for a correct deployment of these technologies on the

whole set of Caribbean islands).

Gaps

The technology is mature and utilized in European countries,

particularly Austria, technology and specific expertise is not available

yet in the whole Caribbean region, and technology transfer through

international cooperation is needed as well as establishing conditions

for economic competitiveness.

Benefit

As some European countries (like Netherlands and Sweden) have

deep lake cooling and several European countries have good

marine construction capabilities, a share of expertise between the two regions could be of mutual benefit in order to

improve the skills and know how in the Caribbean region and to acquire further information (on extreme conditions) for

the European researchers.

Research lines proposed:

1”Identification of Cost Effective Solar Cooling Designs and Applications for Commercial Buildings in CARICOM”. 2. “Sea

Water Air Conditioning” 3.” Absorption cooling systems using solar thermal”

Figure 4 Energy Production Plant & Cooling System, Lycée HQC de Port Louise, Guadeloupe

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GRIDS/ELECTRICITY NETWORKS

Integration of renewable energies (wind, solar, etc.) in existing electricity network is an aspect currently being analyzed

in the Caribbean: the replacement of conventional

generation technology by renewable energies is

introducing a substantial change of dynamic and

stability pattern of interconnected transmission and

distribution systems. These studies (as in Curaçao) are

currently focusing on the grids’ performance through

renewables (in this case photovoltaic), as well as on

the factors conditioning degeneration of load supply

reliability. As the introduction of renewable energies

shall not introduce any degeneration of load supply

reliability, respective measures must be implemented

to compensate for such change characteristics. As

operational experience, typically existing grid code

requirements and state of the art technologies in

control and protection are not sufficiently

synchronized with the fast development of renewable energies, there is substantial research and study work needed to

avoid any degeneration of grid supply pattern.

In the Guadeloupean archipelago the total installed wind power capacity reached almost 30 MW. Grid-connected PV

contribution has increased dramatically during the last few months. It is an absolute evidence for the network operator

that due to the security concerns of the electrical grid, the share of wind or PV generation should not increase further

unless solutions are found to solve the prediction problem. The volatility of the wind power production makes it

necessary to size adequately the primary reserve and to oversize the thermal units’ generation capacity increasing both

the capital and operation costs. Therefore UAG research activity in that field focuses on the development of

management tools of grid-connected wind electricity and scheduling algorithms for optimal energy storage scheme

based on real time short term energy production forecast.

Gaps

The intermittency associated with photo-voltaic generation is lowering the adoption of utility-scale integration with the

grid systems, a scalable answer to this obstacle should be found, including the collaboration with European countries.

Benefit

The problem is not specific to the Caribbean Area or Central American Area but is a global issue because overall in the

world the tendency is now towards to the adoption of more renewable energies. Common research could focus on the

improvement of the overall conversion efficiency, on the cost efficiency, as well as on the ways to significantly drive

down the cost of electricity production from indigenous renewable energy resources.

Research line proposed

“The impact on the dynamic and stability pattern of interconnected transmission and distribution electrical systems at

the replacement of conventional generation technology by renewable energies”. Development of efficient forecasting

Figure 5 Bagasse - Coal plant in Le Moule, Guadeloupe

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scheme that includes some information on the likelihood of the forecast and based on a better knowledge of the wind

variations characteristics along with their influence on power output variation since this is of key importance for the

optimal integration of wind energy in power system since it is the uncertainty of the forecasts that causes balancing

difficult at the utility network level.

Development of large scale energy storage system that exploits the hybridation of the various renewable energy

resources available in the Caribbean region.

BIOFUELS

The Caribbean region as a whole is a net importer of oil. Petroleum producing

countries in the region are Trinidad and Tobago, Cuba and Barbados.

Nevertheless the region largely exploits energy coming from traditional

sources, such as biomass fuels like fuel wood, charcoal and plant waste (co-

generation plant from sugar factories), but in an inefficient way. In several

cases the development of required technological equipment is at commercial

status or close to it. There are still large reserves to tap the potential of these

developments to offer integrated technology solutions that meet needs of

specific productive sectors under conditions that locally may be close to

commercial. Nevertheless, studies of opportunity and technical and economic

feasibility are still missing in the region. A 50 kW pilot plant on gasification of

forest biomass is working in Cuba.

Gaps

Technological gaps mainly relate to Implementation of pilot plant projects, and

demonstration plants through European

technology in the conditions of the region,

Joint research to enhance the transfer of

developed technologies for the production and use of solid biofuels for the region,

asses and eliminate the non-technological barriers to market penetration of these

technologies

Benefits

Given the relevant presence of biomass on the territory, a cooperation with Europe,

could lead to a refinement of current research focusing on “second generation of

biofuels”, as well as on the sustainability of biomass production and on the allocation

of resources between electricity, heat and transport fuel production. Others benefits

can be: Self-supply of electricity and heat at industries associated with the production

of biomass residues, with delivery of electricity surplus to the grid; Transition from

Figure 6 Bagasse -Coal plant in Le Moule, Guadeloupe.

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conventional fuels to solids biofuels in industries that use kilns and boilers; Air conditioning and refrigeration based on

the use of waste heat and gas produced from wood, particularly for food storage; Integrated supply of electricity, heat

and cold in isolated communities; Power plants connected to the network that use biomass as fuel.

Proposed research lines

“Solid biofuels and integrated systems for electricity, heat and cold”

CONCENTRATED SOLAR POWER

Even if not mentioned during the workshop, a

technology which could lead to a potential benefit in the

use of solar energy could be the one related to

Concentrated Solar Power, currently being developed in

Europe (ENEA, Italian National Agency for New

technologies, Energy and Sustainable economic

development). This technology, upgraded with molten

salts passing in collectors’ tubes, may provide with an

alternative and sustainable source of energy to a region

presenting high levels of sun radiation throughout the

whole year.

The basis and the benefits for collaboration between the

two regions surely exist, given the research activities,

developed in similar and very close domains. The

specificity of the Caribbean area has to be taken in

consideration, given the variegated typology of

research, carried out in each of its countries, as well as

the differences in terms of research development, technologies availability and regional/international exchanges.

KNOWLEDGE FOR ENERGY POLICY MAKING

New and innovative approaches, aiming at developing a more sustainable use and provision of energy, like the EWPC-AF

(Electricity Without Price Controls Architecture Framework)4 are emerging and might be a topic of discussion between

the EU and the Caribbean, in the current strategies related to energy supply and CO2 emissions. The EWPC-AF topic of

discussion is closely related to ongoing work on Smart Grids. Instead of adopting a heuristic methodology, whose higher

4 The EWPC-AF is a global scope, minimalist, emergent, holistic, and heuristic architecture framework that aims to replace the local

(member state) scope, complicated, obsolete, fragmented, and. normative architecture framework. The EWPC-AF can be selected to fulfill the Commission’s communication Towards a Single Market Act - For a highly competitive social market economy to enable maximum social welfare through the alignment of research based SET-Plan technologies and innovation based Lead Markets initiatives (LMIs). The EWPC-AF first level architecture can be enacted to drive an energy policy (and the knowledge for energy policy making feedback) as part of a socio-technical industry ecosystem with an unprecedented system-of-systems structure that balances and mutually reinforces a regulated electricity market with an open business market. Successful LMIs innovations will emerge from a second level architecture business model competition, for example, for the Single Market.

Figure 7 Lycée Haute Qualité Environnementale de Port Louise, Guadeloupe.

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architecture levels are created by one person, or small team, the ongoing Smart Grid is using a participative

methodology, by integrating the work of 200 experts. The resulting system-of-systems keeps negative side effects of

institutional memory that leaves in place system barriers for LMIs and thus for the Single Market.

The benefits of collaboration between the two regions could be twofold: on the one hand Caribbean countries could

improve their research lines and agendas, by testing and adopting the European technologies. European research actors

could, on the other hand, refine their ongoing research activities in extreme climate conditions (like the ones present in

the Caribbean areas), the industry potentially being able to exploit a new market fragment.

Caribbean

Geothermal Energy Development of innovative methodologies for geothermal exploration in a volcanic island context Improvement of geothermal modeling (geological 3D-models, hydraulic-thermal-mechanical-geochemical-coupled models) Studies of fluid reinjection and valorization Development of Enhanced Geothermal systems (EGS): physical, chemical and thermal stimulation for improving reservoir Permeability Development of the geothermal energy uses (binary cycles, cooling systems) New methods for identification of hydrothermal resources.

Photovoltaic Optimising Photovoltaics for roofing materials in the Caribbean context. Developing new materials for photovoltaics for Caribbean weather conditions. Prediction of solar source and solar production for higher integration of photovoltaic supply in energy grid production Behaviour and adaptation of the equipments in insular tropical environment with hurricane and seismic hazards Optimal hybridation design tools for standalone power supply system

Wind Development / modification of existing wind energy systems for the specific wind conditions of the Caribbean. Prediction of wind source and wind generator production for better integration in energy grid production Behavior and adaptation of the equipment’s in insular tropical

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Environment with hurricane and seismic hazards Optimal hybridation design tools for standalone power supply system

Energy Efficiency Energy audit and energy efficiency model for the University of the West Indies – St. Augustine, Trinidad campus. Identification of and definition of efficient designs for the Caribbean Region for various categories of buildings, taking into consideration all factors deemed critical Regulation of intermittent energy by promoting adequacy between storage and predictability

Cooling Solar cooling for buildings - optimal designs and most economic options for Caribbean region Testing of Solar Cooling systems under Caribbean conditions.

Grids/Networks Critical Fault Clearing Times (CFCT) are drastically reduced (due to 0-inertia units) introducing major upgrade needs in protection operation times and, having also effect on AVR/exciter characteristic needs Implemented spinning reserve and load-shedding strategies are not working any more as the overall grid inertia is tending towards zero Reduced short-circuit powers along with geographical adverse location of generation and load center are leading to reduced voltage stability margins as reactive power support in case of voltage sags is being reduced Major grid faults with subsequent area separations are difficult to handle by operation, potentially leading to a higher sequence of blackouts with limited flexibility for restoring full load supply Large scale cost effective energy storage system Integration of Renewable Energy systems into the existing grid networks.

Biofuels Algae as a biofuel source for the Caribbean.