New Zealand to reinforce geothermal skills development in Caribbean
View over Soufriere, St. Lucia, Caribbean (source: flickr/ donnierayjones, creative commons)
Carlo Cariaga
10 Jan 2025
OECS partners with New Zealand institutions for capacity building in the Caribbean region, identifying and training skills crucial to geothermal development.
The Geothermal Energy Capacity Building for Utilization, Investment, and Local Development (GEOBUILD) under the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) has announced a strategic collaboration with the Aotearoa New Zealand-Caribbean Facility for Renewable Energy (FRENZ) to evaluate the skills and training needed to support geothermal development in the Caribbean region.
The six-month initiative will examine the workforce requirements across the geothermal development cycle from exploration to power plant operation. It will identify opportunities for skills development in project management, engineering and technical, environmental and social monitoring, community engagement, and regulatory oversight.
The partnership comes at an opportune time as Dominica prepares to start construction of a 10-MW geothermal power plant. Just recently, Dominica secured a USD 34 million loan from the Caribbean Development Bank to help fund the construction. This will be the first geothermal power plant in the independent OECS and in the Caribbean Community, following 38 years of power generation from geothermal sources in neighbouring Guadeloupe.
“This collaboration comes at a critical moment in our region’s energy transition. With multiple geothermal projects moving forward simultaneously at varying stages of development, we must ensure our people have the skills and education to develop and manage these resources effectively. We cannot rely indefinitely on external expertise,” commented Dr Ernie Stapleton, GEOBUILD Project Manager.
Building geothermal expertise in the Caribbean region
FRENZ is delivered by Cowater International, in association with JRG Energy and Elemental Group. The FRENZ team will deliver the technical assistance, drawing on New Zealand’s extensive experience in geothermal energy development. Their final action plan will provide a detailed framework for building sustainable capacity in the OECS geothermal energy sector.
The initiative builds on nearly a decade of New Zealand’s engagement in Caribbean geothermal development and represents a significant step forward in the region’s transition to renewable energy. The resulting action plan will inform future capacity-building initiatives under the OECS GEOBUILD Programme and help ensure the long-term sustainability of geothermal projects across the OECS.
The geothermal sector presents unique challenges for workforce development in small island states. Projects take years to develop, and opportunities for hands-on experience are limited. The collaboration with FRENZ is intended to help OECS GEOBUILD identify creative ways to build and maintain expertise even as projects progress at different speeds across different islands.
“It is a pleasure to continue our working relationship with the OECS and build on our knowledge of geothermal energy development in the Caribbean. This activity will provide a great foundation for moving towards a sustainable geothermal industry in the region,” said Alastair Brookes, Lead Advisor for FRENZ.
Source: OECS
