The Commonwealth of the Bahamas has signed on to develop 20 MW of solar energy across the Family Islands as part of the Carbon War Room’s Ten Island Challenge, a project backed by Virgin Group founder, Sir Richard Branson.
The announcement was made last Wednesday by the Bahamas Minister of the Environment and Housing, Kenred M.A. Dorsett, and Carbon War Room’s Director of Islands, Justin Locke. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the two to partner towards accelerating the nation’s shift towards renewable energy production and energy efficiency.
“The Bahamas’s entry into the Ten Island Challenge signals another huge step forward for the Caribbean region in the effort towards a clean energy future,” said Sir Richard Branson, Founder of Carbon War Room. “The progress made in the Bahamas will help inspire other islands to work towards accomplishing their renewable energy objectives.”
As a result of their involvement in Carbon War Room’s Ten Island Challenge, the Bahamas will focus on several projects aimed at meeting their renewable energy goals. These include:
- Developing more than 20 MW of solar PV generation across the Family Islands
- Bringing energy efficiency and solar solutions to Anatol Rodgers High School
- Performing a nationwide LED retrofit for street lights
- Implementing a thorough process designed to transition the Bahamas off fossil fuels and document best practices
Formed in 2009, the Carbon War Room has set itself up to accelerate “the adoption of business solutions that reduce carbon emissions at gigaton scale and advance the low-carbon economy.” On its website, Carbon War Room states that it wants to see “a world where over $1 trillion invested in climate change solutions is an annual occurrence, not a historic milestone.”
The Ten Island Challenge specifically targets Caribbean island economies, helping these countries transition from a heavy dependence on fossil fuels to renewable resources. “Through the Ten Island Challenge, Carbon War room and Rocky Mountain Institute identify the technical and commercial solutions that can facilitate low-carbon energy use in the Caribbean.”
Smart Island Economies from Carbon War Room on Vimeo.
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