As world leaders and businesses renew their focus on climate change and the environment, Trinidad and Tobago is fast emerging as the perfect hotspot for developing clean technologies – particularly renewable energy.

Climate change was a focal point in the recently concluded Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, hosted in Trinidad & Tobago in November, catapulting the country into the green spotlight and placing it in an excellent position to lead the way in developing green solutions.

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Businesses in renewable energy have already recognised Trinidad & Tobago as the perfect location: it is a country with one of the world’s most competitive energy rates, it is the largest exporter of both ammonia and methanol across the globe and it is home to one of the largest liquefied natural gas facilities in Latin America and the Caribbean. Not to mention the fact that the island boasts an abundant supply of natural elements such as sunshine, wind and water.

With these advantages, the government of Trinidad and Tobago, a signatory to the Kyoto Protocol, has shown its commitment to developing the renewable energy sector through its development of the 1100-acre Tamana InTech Park – the largest eco-industrial science and technology park in English-speaking Caribbean, with a mixed-use zone, which will include a cluster of renewable energy companies as part of its focus.

Nowhere else in the English-speaking Caribbean will a company be able to find a science and technology park with a focus on both R&D and eco-industry, located on a natural reserve with 30% of land dedicated to green space – making the park a perfect platform for companies that are pursuing innovation in solar, wind, biofuels and other forms of renewable energy.

Also located in the park is a flagship building, which is currently being constructed to attain Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification and which is Trinidad & Tobago’s first ‘smart’, green building with energy-efficient systems. The park will also contain a waste-water treatment pond for the reuse of water for landscaping purposes.

100 years of energy experience

Trinidad and Tobago’s strong energy background serves as an advantage in supporting the development of hybrid technologies and processes that will facilitate the transition toward more totally green solutions.

Drawing from some of the world’s best-available minds in energy found in Trinidad & Tobago – including highly skilled chemists and engineers with international experience – Tamana InTech Park is designed to be the epicentre of the English-speaking Caribbean for advanced research in green technologies.

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One of the main advantages for renewable energy companies located in the park is the presence of the main campus of the University of Trinidad and Tobago (UTT). This campus will offer companies several partnership opportunities, including cost-effective research and testing for renewable innovations and products being developed for the marketplace, as well as a cadre of affordable, highly skilled students and other human resource capabilities in science, technology and energy.

Since UTT uses a ‘co-operative’ approach in the delivery of its programmes, which combines institutional learning with relevant practical workplace experience, companies may also identify opportunities to form strategic alliances with the university to help develop new programmes in renewable energy that fall within its purview and which would be mutually beneficial to both the company and UTT.

Companies may also work with both the UTT and Trinidad & Tobago’s other prestigious institution of higher education, the University of the West Indies, to commercialise renewable energy projects and technology.

There is no shortage of projects in Trinidad & Tobago for companies interested in renewable energy. Use of biofuels from indigenous plants and algae for use in agri-business, reverse-osmosis technology, waste/sewerage/garbage energy conversion using plasma technology and bio-reactors, tidal energy for island electricity and renewable and clean energy prototyping are just some of the opportunities available.

For companies interested in investing in renewable energy projects at Tamana InTech Park, there are several incentives which exist for such ventures. The government offers relief from customs duty, which, under the provisions of the Customs Act, machinery, equipment and raw materials can be imported duty free.

Also, under the venture capital incentive programme, renewable energy projects can access venture capital funds and through Trinidad & Tobago Business Development Company Limited, renewable energy companies can apply for a grant for R&D into renewable energy projects.

Trinidad & Tobago’s Tamana InTech Park has a bold vision: to use more than 100 years of experience in energy to become the leader in new energy technologies. With much business interest already piqued into this world of new energy opportunities, the park is set to dominate the ushering in of the next energy revolution.

For more information, please visit www.tamana.com or call Tel. +1 868 638 0055.

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