Source: VOA News
Barbados has enjoyed the reputation for many years as a nation which was on the cutting edge of solar technology. The late Professor Oliver Headley of the University of the West Indies (UWI) was the pioneer who led the charge to position solar energy as a viable energy option. It appears that he gained more recognition for his work outside Barbados shores. Almost six years since his unfortunate demise, and his vision for the solar industry appears to have floundered. The sum representation of solar development in Barbados appears to be still anchored on the roll-out of solar water heaters. As far as we are aware there is no significant development anywhere in Barbados which is attempting to move the solar industry to the next level.
The sun will still shine when the oil runs out
Professor Oliver Headley
Despite what some may construe as a harsh critique of the current state of the solar industry in Barbados, we still have to give recognition to Reverend Andrew Hatch, and Mr. Solar Energy himself James Husbands. In a country and region blessed with a high standard of education, it seems sacrilegious that our region located a stone throw from the equator, would ignore a technology which facilitates the harnessing of solar energy. Successive governments continue to pay lip service to the national development of alternative sources of energy. It should be obvious if we are to search for an alternative energy supply, solar must be at the top of the list.
In the short time Prime Minister David Thompson has ascended to office, he finds himself defending the number of frequent flyer miles he has been racking-up. One sojourn BU would endorse is a visit to the Israel’s Negev Desert where “engineer Hy Brown is building small prototype homes that run entirely on solar power. He explains, “We have the opportunity by putting solar power on each house, more than what the house(s) use, of turning each house into a mini power plant which is a different way to provide energy for the Neg. Desert.” This would be a constructive undertaking. Barbados has had a long association with the Jewish community brought about when they introduced sugar cane to Barbados in the 17th century.
To our friend Sir Hillary Beckles, who appears to have cemented a bridge of cooperation between the University of the West Indies and the private sector. Who would have thought that this was possible after the Mutual Affair! Would it do any harm to divert a few of the millions to build on the ground-breaking work started by Professor Oliver Headley? Now there is a legacy which would symbolize excellence that would be of value to a proud independent nation, and at the same time lend credit to the UWI. Given the finite state of fossil fuel on the planet, our indigenous university would not be faulted if it sought to establish a private public sector partnership dubbed “The Hunt for Sustainable Solar Energy”.
If the BU family senses that we have become somewhat impatient at the stymied performance of the solar industry to date, you would be correct in your assessment. In recent years it has become clear that the solar industry in Barbados has lacked the vision at a time when the national requirement DEMANDS that it offers the possibility to be a key success factor in the sustainable development of Barbados.
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