Caribbean News
Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC) signs MoU to collaborate on the development of sustainable ocean renewable energy with Global OTEC
10th June 2025, Nice, France — The UN Ocean Conference (UNOC3) held this month in Nice, France, was the stage for an important advancement for marine renewable energy in Barbados. In the margins of the event, the Barbados Investment & Development Corporation (BIDC), through its Bloom Clean Technology and Climate Tech Center of Excellence, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Global OTEC, a climate technology company specialised in Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion (OTEC). This partnership supports the industrial development targets with regards to sustainable clean energy production for energy security at the Corporation’s Industrial Estates and “energy” as an export commodity.
The landmark collaboration reaffirms BIDC’s commitment to innovative around clean technology solutions from the Blue Economy of Barbados. Barbados has set ambitious goals to achieve diversification of its energy mix and a reduction on the reliance on heavy fuels imported into the island for energy production. Through collaborations such as this, it is without doubt that the island’s target of becoming a carbon neutral state by 2030 will become a reality and OTEC can play a vital role in this plan not only in Barbados but also neighbouring Caribbean territories.
Through the MoU, both parties will collaborate on technical assessments, stakeholder engagement, and the evaluation of suitable locations for the technology implementation. OTEC can change the island’s industrial development and clean technology landscape, bringing sustainable climate smart baseload power 24/7 to Small Island Developing States (SIDS), being a viable solution to the current diesel generators that provide electricity to over 282,000 Barbadians. Using the temperature difference between warm surface water and cold deep water to provide continuous electricity, OTEC is well suited for the country given the shelf on its eastern coast.
“Small Island Developing States need to innovate in their industrial development thinking and their approach with regards to their energy
security and sovereignty, manufacturing and processing, technical capacity development, scientific knowledge acquisition and technology transfer for future focused careers and sustainable economic growth. The volatility of global energy markets due to geo-political conflict and logistical challenges leave the economies of SIDS vulnerable, equally when we consider climate change, it’s clear that the business as usual will no longer be adequate for industrial and sustainable development in the global South, especially in the context of the blue economy. Greening our industrial estates through innovative technology will remain a key strategic objective at the Corporation, especially if the technology under consideration can positively impact of manufacturing and commodity export portfolio”, states BIDC Chief Executive Officer Mr. Mark Hill.
The MoU follows a growing interest in ocean-based climate solutions among SIDS, which face increasing pressure to enhance energy security and reduce carbon emissions. Global OTEC’s modular approach to the technology is designed to integrate with island grids, offering a sustainable alternative to diesel generation and can provide energy redundancy to the grid after severe weather impacts from tropical storms. BIDC’s green hydrogen targets can also be assisted by Global OTEC’s technological solution.
Global OTEC is also leading the EU-funded project PLOTEC, which built and will test a floating storm-resistant structure for OTEC in weather-prone regions, such as the Caribbean. The advancements in design and materials will make ocean energy more resilient to tropical storms and severe climate conditions, leaving countries like Barbados less vulnerable to electricity outages, particularly when needed the most.
Barbados has previously expressed interest in OTEC, as last year Global OTEC presented its projects in a roundtable at the Export Barbados (BIDC) headquarters. “Barbados continues to lead by example in the global blue economy. This MoU builds on our longstanding engagement with the country and signals our commitment to making Barbados the launchpad for a Caribbean cluster of ocean thermal projects. We can unlock clean, reliable power from the ocean, and Barbados is showing the region how it can be a lighthouse for the region”, emphasises Global OTEC Founder and CEO Dan Grech.
OTEC: a great fit for the Caribbean
The Caribbean is facing an energy crisis, commonly referred to as a “fuel trap”. To escape this trap, the region needs renewable energy technologies that take into account its unique characteristics, such as limited land space and vulnerability to tropical storms. In addition, there is an urgent need to reduce electricity prices, which are currently around USD 0.25 per kWh on average, more than double the average price in the United States. In some Caribbean countries, the prices can go up to over USD 0.40 per kWh.
As these countries rely heavily on fossil fuels, with more than 90% of their electricity supply coming from this source, the consequent high and fluctuating costs affect competitiveness, and productivity and perpetuate poverty. OTEC can help the Caribbean overcome its energy challenges, harnessing the power of the ocean, the islands’ main natural resource, to deliver clean and reliable power while reducing diesel costs by up to 50%.
About Global OTEC
Global OTEC is a UK-based company set up to accelerate the commercialization of a floating OTEC technology to develop zero-carbon, baseload, clean energy sources that achieve maximum impact in empowering SIDS, Least Developing Countries (LDCs) and Coastal Nations with energy security whilst helping the Earth reduce greenhouse gas emissions and eventually eliminate total dependence on fossil fuel.
Caribbean News
Regional and U.S. Officials Warn: “Do Not Travel to Haiti” Amid Escalating Violence, Terrorism, and Breakdown in Order
Caribbean News
COMMUNIQUE | Forty-ninth (49th) Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community | Montego Bay, Jamaica
Montego Bay, Jamaica, July 14, 2025 – The Forty-Ninth Regular Meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) was held in Montego Bay, Jamaica from 6-8 July under the chairmanship of Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica.
Members of the Conference in attendance were: Honourable Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda; Honourable Philip Davis, Prime Minister of the Commonwealth of The Bahamas; Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Prime Minister of the Republic of Barbados; Honourable John Briceño, Prime Minister of Belize; His Excellency Dr Mohamed Irfaan Ali, President of the Cooperative Republic of Guyana; His Excellency Laurent Saint-Cyr, Councillor-President, Member of the Transitional Presidential Council, Haiti; Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness, Prime Minister of Jamaica; Honourable Terrance Drew, Prime Minister, Federation of St Kitts and Nevis; and Dr the Honourable Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
Dr Vince Henderson, Minister of Foreign Affairs, International Trade and Energy represented the Commonwealth of Dominica; 
Honourable Joseph Andall, Minister for Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development represented Grenada; Honourable Veronica Dorsette Hector, Deputy Premier, represented Montserrat; Honourable Alva Baptiste, Minister of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs represented Saint Lucia; His Excellency Steven MacAndrew, Minister of Labour, Employment Opportunity and Youth Affairs represented the Republic of Suriname; Honourable Sean Sobers, Minister of Foreign and CARICOM Affairs,represented the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago.
Associate Members in attendance were Honourable E David Burt, Premier of Bermuda; Dr the Honourable Natalio Wheatley, Premier of the British Virgin Islands, His Excellency Gilmar Pisas, Prime Minister of Curacao; and Honourable Jamell Robinson, Deputy Premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands.
OPENING CEREMONY
The Opening Ceremony was held at the Montego Bay Convention Centre in Rose Hall, St James. The event featured remarks by leaders of the Community, and cultural items from several Jamaican performers. There was also a Declaration of solidarity from the CARICOM Youth Ambassadors for Jamaica which underscored their preparedness and desire to support the leaders of the Region in its development, prioritizing creativity, innovation and technology.
In her remarks, CARICOM Secretary General, Dr Carla Barnett noted that the collective action of CARICOM Member States has delivered many commendable results for the people of the Region, in human and social development, economic integration, foreign policy coordination, and security, which provide a useful roadmap for the way forward.
“Unprecedented global uncertainty, economic pressures, technological innovations that challenge our capacity to keep pace, climate vulnerability, and the needs of our young people, our women and future generations, compel us to act collectively, with courage and with conviction,” the Secretary-General said.
Prime Minister of Barbados and Outgoing Chair, Honourable Mia Amor Mottley noted that CARICOM has seen many challenges and urged the gathering to persevere and persist in efforts to advance and strengthen integration. Quoting from popular Jamaican artiste, Jimmy Cliff, she said “We can get it if we really want, but we must try and try and try.”
She pointed to support for Haiti, efforts to control disinformation, and the need to tackle crime and enhance citizen security, as some of the
critical issues which the Community must continue to address. “We must be resolute in preserving CARICOM as a Zone of Peace and reaffirm our commitment to working with the international community to promote de-escalation, uphold diplomacy, and pursue lasting solutions grounded in dialogue and mutual respect”.
In his remarks, the new Chair, Dr the Most Honourable Andrew Holness said his Chairmanship would focus on regional security, especially as it relates to transnational organised crime and gangs, noting that it is critical that a global war on gangs be declared similar to the war on terror. The Prime Minister called for concerted action to dismantle criminal networks and cripple their resources.
“Our theme: People, Partnerships and Prosperity – Promoting a Secure and Sustainable Future” captures the essence of our regional purpose. It reflects a profound truth, that security and resilience are not optional; they are foundations for prosperity; that people-centered development and strategic partnerships are not aspirational, but essential,” the Prime Minister said.
He cited climate justice and climate finance, mobilizing support for Haiti, and strengthening internal coordination and external partnerships as critical to the ongoing work of the Community. Prime Minister Holness also stressed the importance of engaging young people in shaping the decisions that affect their future. He reminded that it was important to engage them in a deliberate, sustained and meaningful manner.
The opening ceremony can be viewed at: https://caricom.org/49hgc/
The COMMUNIQUE in its entirety can be read here: Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community
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