Basseterre, St. Kitts – On Friday, September 27, 2024, in a significant ceremony at the conference room of the Solid Waste Management Corporation, The Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy, Utilities and Domestic Transport, Hon. Konris Maynard, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Energy, Utilities, and Domestic Transport, to which the other parties are the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) and Arizona-based technology company, SolarSpace.
Purpose and Significance
The purpose of the MoU is to establish a framework among the parties to implement initiatives related to the Solar-Water Recycle, Desalination and Purification System, and other groundbreaking technologies from SolarSpace.
The MoU represents the latest demonstration of the Ministry’s commitment to leading the transition to renewable energy by implementing technology that utilities can rely on to deliver services to consumers while minimizing their dependence on fossil fuels to meet such demands.
The significance of the MoU lies in its ability to provide solutions to utility issues that integrate the work of the Energy Unit and the Water Services Department.
The Backdrop
St. Kitts and Nevis has undergone periods of decreased rainfall that have adversely impacted the ability of the St. Kitts Water Services Department to provide 24-hour service to consumers. Since taking office in 2022, Minister Maynard has led the charge to find alternative potable water sources to facilitate a return to 24-hour service.
In 2024, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure broke ground on two desalination plants intended to increase supply in Basseterre and Canda Industrial Estate. Desalination, however, requires additional electrical energy to support it.
Rather than increasing reliance on fossil fuels to facilitate the production of electricity required to support desalination, the Ministry has incorporated renewable energy infrastructure in the form of solar panels on the plant at Canada Estate as evidence of its commitment to transition to cleaner energy and proof of concept.
The MoU paves the way to further integrate renewable energy and technological innovations into the water sector as the St. Kitts Water Services Department increases its reliance on desalination with new considerations of energy-efficient processes to advance the Ministry’s agenda. Against this backdrop, Minister Maynard explained the significance of the MoU.
Benefits
The Minister also outlined the project’s benefits.
Bold Actions
In a brief statement, the Founder of SolarSpace, David Vili, explained that St. Kitts and Nevis would be the first to benefit from the ground application of his space technology because of Minister Maynard’s bold actions and leadership.
Vili also expressed his intentions to form a long-term partnership with the Ministry to facilitate initiatives related to the Solar-Water Recycle, Desalination and Purification System, and grant access to other groundbreaking technologies.
The Implementing Partner
CCREEE is a Caricom institution that serves as an implementing partner. According to CCREEE.org, the Centre assists CARICOM Member States in the technical implementation of sustainable energy commitments on common SIDS sustainable energy issues and solutions.
The signing of the MoU further formalizes the commitment of the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Energy Utilities, and Domestic Transport to revolutionize the energy landscape of St. Kitts and Nevis. It signals an exciting era of innovation and highlights the mindset of our leaders to embrace creative solutions as we transition to an energy-efficient nation.
