Dominica
Energy Efficiency in DOMLEC * Energy Efficient Lighting * Geothermal Energy * Other
Dominica, with a population of just over 70,000, is renowned for its natural beauty as "the nature island of the Caribbean," and possesses the Central Caribbean's only Natural World Heritage Site - Morne Trois Pitons National Park.
Dominica has the good fortune of being able to consider a range of clean energy options with considerable export potential. There is potential for expansion of hydroelectric energy through micro-hydro projects. Further, Dominica has large wind resources and has the potential to use wind turbines to provide a significant portion of its power.
Dominica Project Profiles
Energy Efficiency in DOMLEC Distribution System
Objective: Electricity distribution in Dominica is operated by the national power utility, Dominica Electricity Services Limited (DOMLEC). 2002, losses were 18.6% of net generation, for a total wasted energy of 14,643 kWh. In a small electrical system like Dominica's, transmission and distribution losses should be in the 4-6% range. This project, therefore, looks at interventions aimed to reduce energy and power losses in the DOMLEC distribution system.
Description: Studies were conducted by UNIDO for energy efficiency improvements which were completed in 2005. These studies were intended to develop and help implement a comprehensive electric loss reduction plan.
Update: The GSEII phase of the project was completed in 2007 with the DOMLEC Capital Investment Plan, which included three loss reduction efforts with $5.1 million. This plan will annually save 5 million KWh, $520,000, 344,400 gallons of diesel, and 3,740 tons of carbon dioxide.
Energy Efficiency Lighting Project
Energy Efficienct Lighting Case Study
Objective: Energy costs in Dominica are exceedingly high. In order to ameliorate these costs, the energy efficiency lighting project aimed to install energy efficient CFL bulbs in place of conventional lighting.
Description and Results: In March 2006, an energy efficient lighting project was initiated with the distribution of 200 fluorescent light bulbs in a local Dominican community. This was done with the cooperation of the University of Vermont and the UK-based organization Climate Care. A total of 5,000 energy efficient bulbs were installed by 2007, with energy awareness activities carried out alongside the initial distribution of the bulbs.
Geothermal Energy Project
Geothermal in the Caribbean Case Study
Objective: To develop Dominica's geothermal energy potential with the possibility of exporting excess energy from a 50-100MW plant to nearby islands Guadelope and Martinique.
Description: In 2004 OAS's Geo-Caraibes program began exploring the feasibility of such a project and by 2005, OAS(with GEF funding and UNEP) began resource exploration to confirm the potential for geothermal development. The study was completed in the spring of 2006. Two years later, GSEII helped Dominica secure funding from the Euro Commission's Energy Facility to further explore geothermal potential.
Update: In 2008, Minister for Energy Charles Savarin signed an agreement on the commencement of activities for energy exploration project using Euro Comission's Energy Facility funding. GSEII intended to support the process by conducting a study of legal issues associated with connecting Dominica's energy with neighboring nations. In 2009, a three year, 5 million euro geothermal resource development program started thanks to OAS efforts. The project will generate 100 megawatts of electricity, 80% of which will be supplied to the French departments of Guadeloupe and Martinique via submarine cables. However, problems set the project back one year and the estimated completion is not until 2013, though the project is still underway.
Other Past & Present Projects
- Assist in the development of NEP/SEPs since 2002 and currently through CSEP. GSEII also reviewed progress on sustainable energy projects, assisted writing of 5 year implementation plans, and organized technical support for those plans.
- Support a prefeasibility study for a 4MW Wind Farm by supplying a grant to Dominica Sustainable Energy Corporation (DSEC). Pilot phase to assess potential was performed in 2004 and the initial stages of discussion began in early 2005.
- Pre-feasibility study was conducted in 2005 for the development of a DOMLEC Utility Micro Hydro plant. In 2009, German aid agency GTZ submitted a document it prepared in 2007 on technical assistance for a hydro plant at Newton, Dominica.
- A Dominica Sustainable Energy Corporation Biogas Plant was identified as a possible phase two project in 2003.
- The implementation of a Solar Hot Water Heating Financing Program for the Dominica Cooperatives League and Credit Unions was planned for 2005/2006 based on project performed in St. Lucia, but the project was not initiated after the problems encountered on St. Lucia.
GSEII Events in Dominica
March 2006. Global Environmental Facility (GEF) Stakeholders Meeting