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Description:
Island nations seeking a more reliable and sustainable way of generating and distributing power have had even more incentive to upgrade their power infrastructure given recent highly destructive storms in Puerto Rico and portions of the Bahamas. It is becoming increasingly recognized that a shaky grid, powered by containerized shipments of diesel fuel, is not a good long-term option.
Significant advances in solar and wind generation technologies, coupled with the latest storage and microgrid technologies, highlight a new era of energy independence for countries or islands seeking to upgrade their power ecosystems.
How to go about finding the best solution? What type of planning is required? How can governments and utilities move forward proactively instead of waiting for environmental or catastrophic incidents to force their hands?
Learn from our panel of experts, some of whom have been involved in planning and/or implementation of some of these projects including:
*The installation on Portugal’s Graciosa Island which displaces as much as 70% of the island’s existing diesel fuel-generated power with new and clean wind and solar energy.
*Recently announced plans by the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis and the state-owned utility company, SKELEC, to build the largest solar generation, energy storage, microgrid project in the Caribbean.
Session Speakers:
She founded DAVA Energy Solutions, based in Aruba, with a wholistic approach of delivering scalable clean energy solutions by working with utilities, IPPs, regulators, governments and knowledge centers, which ultimately results in executed utility scale energy projects.
Avanindra serves on several boards including board member of Solar Head of State, Oakland, Calif.; chairman of 360o of Innovation, Aruba; and board member of LABACA – Latvian American Business Association of California.
She gained a better understanding of the Caribbean region by first working for the former Prime Minister of Aruba, Mike Eman, in the Bureau of Innovation and Sustainability. Avanindra has a master’s degree in Electrical Engineering – Circuit Design from Stanford University where she graduated with honors.
Dagmara Avanindra
Founder & CEO DAVA Energy Solutions
Throughout his career, Urban has been instrumental in the development of more than 9,000 MW of power generation; led over $6 billion in project and corporate financings in both conventional and alternative energy sectors; and has been involved in numerous energy infrastructure projects on a strategic and deal execution basis.
Urban leads a veteran global team focused on the stationary market and is based out of the company’s North American headquarters in Dallas. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting from Indiana University and is a Certified Public Accountant.
Bryan Urban
EVP, Stationary Solutions, Leclanche
At HowardScott, a global developer of micro-grid and renewable energy projects, Macaw has structured, raised finance for, invested in and originated more than 100 cross border transactions within the technology and real estate sectors.
He led the turnaround of Graciólica, a project to deliver world leading levels of renewable penetration on the island of Graciosa in the Azores, Previously, he was a key investor and board member of Swiss SIX-listed battery technology company Leclanché and was an investor and board member in Danish company, Suncil, which provides a range of solar powered, street masts for lighting and smart infrastructure.
Macaw graduated with a BCom Finance from Melbourne University, Australia and an LLM in International Law from St Thomas University, Miami.
Scott Macaw
Head of Business Development HowardScott
In his role as general manager (Ag.) at the St. Kitts Electricity Company Limited (SKELEC), he has been pivotal in helping transition the company from a government department to a corporatized entity. He has also been a proponent of change management and is always eager to incorporate new technologies and practices to help enhance the company’s greatest asset, its people. Williams encourages their advancement through collaboration and exposure as he is a believer that “Great things are accomplished by talented people who believe they will accomplish them,” – W. Bennis”
Williams is an engineering professional with a Master of Science degree focused in Engineering Management from University of South Florida.
Clement Jomo Williams
General Manager (Ag.) St. Kitts Electricity Company
He is from the Parish of St. Andrew but now resides in the Parish of St. Catherine, Jamaica. He is a lifelong scholar and an avid football player and fan. . After graduating from the Wolmer’s School for Boys at a tender age, Dwight progressed to earn a Bachelor of Engineering Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Technology, Jamaica and later a Master of Science Degree in Engineering Management from Florida International University.
Mr. Richards has fifteen (15) years of experience in the power industry; ten of which was spent in the field of power generation. His core responsibilities at JPS includes the implementation and management of Grid Optimization Solutions; Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) negotiations; Power Plant Grid Integration; Operational and Technical PPA Management; and preserving Regulatory and Stakeholder Relationships.
Dwight O. Richards
Manager, Grid Performance Department, System Operations, JPSCo. Ltd.
Sponsored by:
Leclanché is currently developing the largest solar generation plus energy storage project ever to be built in the Caribbean, a 35.6 MW solar energy plant and 44.2 MWh battery storage facility that will be built on government provided land in the Basseterre Valley, adjacent to the City of Basseterre and the current SKELEC PowerStation on the island of St. Kitts.
