Small islands are leading a global push for clean energy. A 10-MW geothermal power plant in the Commonwealth of Dominica is the latest step on the country’s climate resilience journey — a journey that is inspiring countries around the world to opt for clean energy over fossil fuels.
The 10-MW geothermal power plant in Dominica, funded by a $34.8 million loan from the Caribbean Development Bank, is only the latest in a series of clean energy projects and initiatives being pursued by small states.
Dominica has emerged as a leader in the fight against climate change, with a lofty goal of being the world’s first climate-resilient nation. Its climate-resilience journey enabled and emboldened by the Citizenship by Investment Programme, has inspired other states around the world.
What Dominica has done
The recent public-private partnership funded by the Caribbean Development Bank, which enables the Commonwealth of Dominica to build a 10-MW geothermal power plant, will help facilitate the already great strides Dominica has made towards green energy.
According to Think GeoEnergy, an energy news site, Dominica has already completed the ‘drilling and testing of the production and reinjection wells,’ while the ‘site preparation has been ongoing for the power plant construction that is expected to start by early 2025.’
Think GeoEnergy notes that the 10-MW geothermal power project will strongly benefit the people of Dominica, by reducing costs of electricity supply and making supply more reliable.
‘Early studies suggest that the island’s geothermal potential could provide electrical power capacity up to 50 times the current peak demand of approximately 18 MW,’ they write.’
CBI funds have been vital to paving Dominica’s path to green energy. With CBI funding, the island is not only currently drilling two geothermal wells for energy extraction and building the aforementioned power plant; the country is also building a corresponding transmission network for geothermal energy.
This means that not only will green energy benefit Dominica, but it will also benefit neighbouring nations, as Dominica can export the energy elsewhere.
Green energy initiatives aid Dominica’s journey towards becoming the world’s first climate-resilient nation.
A turning point in Dominica’s climate resilience journey took place in 2017 when Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit addressed the United Nations General Assembly in what came to be known as his landmark ‘Eden is Broken’ speech.
In his remarks, he called upon the developed world to aid the developing world in protecting the environment, including funding initiatives to help Small Island Developing States (SIDS) fight climate change.
Dominica has been at the forefront of clean energy, but other small states have also been important players in utilising their voices in favour of green energy.
Small states such as Barbados and Samoa have taken great strides towards carbon neutrality and environmental protection, proving to larger states that all states can make a change, regardless of size.
Barbados has pledged to achieve 100% renewable energy and carbon neutrality by 2030, as outlined in the Barbados National Energy Policy (BNEP).
Samoa also has lofty energy goals. The country plans to have 100% renewable electricity by 2025, aiming to integrate hydropower, wind, and solar energy into the national grid.
These small states join larger countries such as Denmark, which has vowed to achieve 100% renewable energy in all sectors by 2050, and Germany, which has pledged carbon neutrality by 2045.
World powers such as the United States, China, and India all also have clean energy goals but have been slower movers than many European states along with Small Island Developing States.
Dominica’s example: how small islands lead
Dominica has led other small islands in its captivating focus on climate resilience and environmental protection. Its focus on green energy, buoyed by the CBI Programme, has led other countries to take note.
By carving out a niche in which the country’s voice is listened to, Dominica has cemented its position as a Caribbean leader with global reach.
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