Exeter students help develop renewable energy strategies in Caribbean

The University of Exeter, alongside the University of the West Indies, investigated the four main areas of renewable energy – solar, wind, bioenergy and cooling using sea water. The students were hosted by the University of the West Indies and provided with accommodation, resources, contacts within industry and assistance in the development of projects as part of the collaborative endeavour.

The students presented their findings to key stakeholders and were keen to demonstrate the fantastic potential that Barbados has to a sustainable, secure and affordable energy system.

Richard Cochrane, Director for Education for renewable energy at the University of Exeter said; “the visit by the University of Exeter students in May 2018 represents a core component of the studies and has provided invaluable experience for our students.”

It has been a fantastic opportunity to consolidate many aspects of their studies in renewable energy technologies”.

The students, who are all in their third years of study, have been working with the Barbados National Oil Company to develop proposals to begin using solar and wind energy. Students located suitable sites for the panels and turbines, calculated the logistics of transporting and installing components and worked on problems such as the loss of energy generation due to cloud cover and changing weather conditions.

Mark Hill, director of Biogen Biotechnologies Inc., who create biogas to be used as fuel, invited the team to visit the site and learn more about the technologies currently in use in Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean.

Sharing knowledge and information, the students also met with Nikolai Holder, a researcher and consultant at Biogen and PhD student at the University of the West Indies. Mr Holder helped develop the facility and both universities have extended invitations to learn more at their respective establishments.

This is not the first time that the two universities have worked together. Over the last few years, the University of Exeter and the University of the West Indies have developed a number of collaborative projects with discussions continuing between the two institutions. Dr Justin Hinshelwood from the University of Exeter said, “The May 2018 trip has been particularly useful to develop new and existing links.

“There is a keen interest from the University of the West Indies and the University of Exeter to maintain and build these links for the future”.