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Energy

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Overview

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Power plant in Port-au-Prince

As of 2017, among all the countries in the Americas, Haiti is producing the least amount of energy. Less than a quarter of the country has electric coverage.[1] Most regions of Haiti that do have energy are powered by generators. These generators are often expensive and produce a lot of pollution. The areas that do get electricity experience power cuts on a daily bases and some areas are limited to 12 hours of electricity a day. Electricity is provided by a small number of independent companies: Sogener, E-power, and Haytrac.[2] There is no national electricity grid within the country.[3] The most common source of energy used is wood, along with charcoal. In Haiti, about 4 million metric tons of wood products are consumed yearly.[4] Like charcoal and wood, petroleum is also an important source of energy for Haiti. Since Haiti cannot produce its own fuel, all fuel is imported. Yearly, around 691,000 tons of oil is imported into the country.[3]

Renewable Energy

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In 2017, the World Bank a total of $35 million to Haiti in order to improve access and expansion of renewable energy. The two projects are "Renewable Energy for All" and "Haiti Modern Energy Services for All". The money for the "Renewable Energy for All" is being split between three different sectors including: Public Administration - Energy and Extractives, Energy Transmission and Distribution, and Solar Energy. The project will be completed at the end of 2024.[5] The World Bank's Country Director for Haiti, Anabela Abreau, has noted that "Haiti has significant untapped sources for renewable energy".[6]

Wind Energy

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In 2011, the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Granted $15,000 to a group of researchers from Princeton University to design wind turbines to be used around the country.[7] Wind energy has become an important focus for the Haitian government.[3] The areas with the highest wind potential are located in the West, North-west, and North of Haiti.[8] In 2017, construction for the new Irois power plant began. This power plant will produce wind, solar, and diesel energy. With a production capacity of 160 kWh, this hybrid power plant will be the first-ever constructed in Haiti.[9]

Solar Energy

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Haitian clinic where solar power is used to refrigerate rabies vaccine

In 2017, imports of solar equipment into the country were no longer taxed hoping to encourage the use of solar energy.[10] According to a study by the Worldwatch Institute, Haiti has the ability to produce a sufficient amount of electricity from renewable resources and solar energy has very strong potential.[3] The total capacity of solar energy installed is 0.7 MW. 80% of the solar energy produced is used for lighting; the other 20% is used for vaccines, seafood conservation, pumping, audiovisual and communication.[8] Recently, many solar companies have seen Haiti as a huge market potential for solar energy. The founder of 10Power estimates that the potential solar power market is worth over $500 million.[10] In 2013, the completion of Hôpital Universitaire de Mirebalais came to an end. This hospital is the largest solar-powered hospital in the world. The hospital has over 1,800 solar panels.[11]

Hydropower Energy

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Hydropower is the second largest source of energy for Haiti. They have a capacity of 1000 GWh.[3] Most hydropower plants do not operate to full capacity. However, as of 2018, Haiti’s Peligre Hydroelectric power plant has been restored to full capacity.[12] In 2011, the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) gave a $20 milllion grant to go towards restoring the Peligre Hydroelectric plant.[13] The country has the potential to create 896 GWh yearly. There has been talk of developing micro-hydropower for rural areas of Haiti. Hydropower is seen as a possible alternative for those who don't have access to grid electricity.[3]

Biomass

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With the use of agriculture and forestry waste, it can be turned into energy and can be turned into something similar to natural gas. Haiti has much agricultural waste that can be used for biomass energy. However, it has setbacks such as finding a way to economically collect the waste and also the effects of taking away these materials from their natural ecosystems. Currently, Haiti produces about 1 MW of electricity from bagasse.[14]

Government Targets

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Through the National Development Plan of the Energy Sector of Haiti, the Haitian government has specific energy goals they would like to reach by 2032. These include the promotion of alternative energy sources, strengthen the State's regulatory role in the field of energy, improve the production and distribution of energy, and improve the provision of electricity.[15] The current president of Haiti, Jovenal Moïse, has plans to provide electricity in rural areas and by the end of his presidency he wants to provide constant electricity for all Haitians.[16] The government has goals of adopting more policies in favor of renewable energy. By 2020, they want to increase the use of renewable energy by 50%.[17]

Jobs in Renewable Energy

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In 2018, USAID Local Enterprise and Value Chain Enhancement (LEVE) project gave grants to local vocational schools to help develop solar energy training courses. Due to the projected growth of the solar power energy industry in Haiti, USAID LEVE is helping improve these schools' relationships with the private solar energy sector.[18]

References

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  1. ^ "The Haiti Sustainable Energy Programme" (PDF). UNEP. May 2017.
  2. ^ Pauyo, Jean (March 2017). "Transmitting and Distributing Electricity in Haiti" (PDF). Copenhagen Consensus Center.
  3. ^ a b c d e f Matthew Lucky, Katie Auth, Alexander Ochs, et al., Haiti Sustainable Energy Roadmap: Harnessing Domestic Energy Resources to Build an Affordable, Reliable, and Climate-Compatible Electricity System (Washington, DC: Worldwatch Institute, 2014).
  4. ^ https://www.usaid.gov/haiti/energy. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)
  5. ^ "Haiti: Renewable Energy for All".
  6. ^ "World Bank Approves US$35 Million for Clean Energy and Improved Electricity Access in Haiti".
  7. ^ "Wind Energy for Haiti: A Rapidly Deployable Renewable Energy System | Research Project Database | Grantee Research Project | ORD | US EPA". cfpub.epa.gov. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  8. ^ a b "Haiti Energy Sector Development Plan" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Haiti - Technology : Irois power plant, a first in the country".
  10. ^ a b Yeoh, Neil. "Solar Startup Brings Renewable Energy To Haitian Businesses". Forbes. Retrieved 2018-10-18.
  11. ^ Schellenbaum, Amy (May 30, 2013). "In Haiti, 1,800 Solar Panels Power a Brand-New Hospital".
  12. ^ "Haiti Electricity - Peligre Hydroelectric power plant is now operating at full capacity, first time since 1971".
  13. ^ "IDB makes $20 million grant for Haiti hydro". {{cite web}}: |archive-date= requires |archive-url= (help)
  14. ^ Matthew Lucky, Katie Auth, Alexander Ochs, et al., Haiti Sustainable Energy Roadmap: Harnessing Domestic Energy Resources to Build an Affordable, Reliable, and Climate-Compatible Electricity System (Washington, DC: Worldwatch Institute, 2014).
  15. ^ "Haiti Energy Sector Development Plan" (PDF).
  16. ^ Nsehe, Mfonobong (June 5, 2018). "Haiti's President Jovenel Moïse Talks About His Ambitious Energy Agenda". Forbes. Retrieved December 1, 2018.
  17. ^ "Energy Transition Initiative: Island Energy Snapshot - Haiti (Fact Sheet)" (PDF).
  18. ^ "DEVELOPING SKILLS FOR THE FUTURE OF HAITI'S RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY". USAID. May 11, 2018.
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