Wednesday, February 14, 2018

Eastern Caribbean: Big Potential for Geothermal Energy Development

Montserrat’s Geothermal Energy “gold mine”? (Montserrat Reporter)

Bruce L Cutright of Thermal Energy Partners (TEP) of Texas suggests that Montserrat’s accessible geothermal energy resource is potentially 100 MW.

An initial development would be likely to be 3-5 MW. (Montserrat’s current peak electrical load is a bit over 2 MW.)

Mr. Cutright also indicated that in neighbouring Nevis, TEP has helped to identify a geothermal resource of 100 – 400 MW and is working with the Government of Nevis in a partnership to develop geothermal energy there. (Official sources there suggest 300 MW and there are indications that some estimates are as high as 650 MW.) The proposed initial plant size there is to be 9 MW. 

Encouraged by developments in Nevis, the Government of St Kitts-Nevis is also looking to develop identified resources in St Kitts and to explore interconnectivity with Nevis as well as possibilities for export. Such export will require undersea power cables, which will therefore be within a few dozen miles of Montserrat.

A September 3rd 2016 Carib Journal article indicates that the Government of Antigua and Barbuda has also signed a memorandum of agreement with TEP towards developing a Organic Rankine Cycle geothermal plant with ten million watts of capacity.

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