Barbados is set to revolutionise its energy industry and tackle its seaweed problem with a groundbreaking $186 million bio-energy project in a bid to save millions in foreign exchange, earn millions more in revenue, create jobs, and offer renewable natural gas (RNG) for commercial sale by April next year.
The public-private partnership (PPP) venture slated to begin this year promises to extract gas from the invasive Sargassum seaweed, project founder Dr Legena Henry revealed on Friday.
The project will entail the construction of an eight-megawatt biogas plant to be completed over an 18-24 month period and deploying a state-of-the-art circular Sargassum solution.
Dr Henry, the founder of Rum and Sargassum Inc – the company behind the project – told Barbados TODAY that state-of-the-art technology will make it possible to harvest “every shred of beaching Sargassum before it gets near the beach/coastlines of Barbados, and we put it to good, productive use before the end of 2026”.
“Each year, this solution will save US$38 million (BDS$76 million) in foreign exchange, raise US$93 million (BDS$186 million) in revenue, offset 2.8 tonnes of greenhouse gases, prevent approximately 262 000 tonnes of Sargassum from arriving on Barbados’ shores annually, and facilitate the fuelling of over 9 000 vehicles with renewable fuel,” explained the mechanical engineer and renewable energy lecturer at the University of the West Indies at Cave Hill.
Dr Henry disclosed that approximately 55 permanent jobs will be created in Sargassum collection, biogas plant operations, and related agricultural operations, while about 103 Barbadians are expected to be temporarily employed during the construction of the plant.
“We have met suppliers of the various parts of the supply chain for the collection of Sargassum in the deep water, too far from the coast, straight up to production of the biogas,” she disclosed.
The renewable energy expert said the figure for the project is based on quotations and estimates during discussions with the various suppliers who would implement the technology and the running of a plant in Barbados and Grenada.
The European Union, which backed a completed financial model for retailing the biogas, has asked the Rum and Sargassum company to provide a plan on what it would take to have Sargassum-free beaches.
The university researcher added: “We are in conversations about ‘this is what it takes’ because we have been asked. We have been asked by the EU to show] what it takes to ensure no Sargassum on the beach . . . what does it take to implement a solution that meets the Sargassum at the scale of its arrival. So we spent the last few weeks back and forth on the phone and email with the different players on this supply chain, and these numbers we came up with.”
While the Sargassum seaweed could provide substantial financial and environmental gains on one hand, its appearance on beaches continues to pose a major headache to hotels and tourism.
Experts are forecasting a moderate influx of the weed in Barbados’ waters between now and early April.
But the chairman of the Barbados Hotel and Tourism Association Javon Griffith suggested he was not too worried at the moment, even as the country hosts thousands of Barbadians from across the diaspora who are coming for We Gatherin’ along with the arrival of tourists.
Griffith contends that government agencies responsible for beaches and coastal areas seem to be keeping the beaches in a welcoming condition.
“Coastal Zone Management Unit (CZMU) and NCC (National Conservation Commission) have been doing a very good job in having the beach areas clean in a timely manner . . . in all the coastlines . . . east, south and west. And, as you know, the west coast is not really impacted as much as the east and the south. So, at this stage, there is no significant concern,” he told Barbados TODAY.
When asked about the impact the Sargassum influx may have on those here for the We Gatherin’ events which kick off in St Lucy, he said: “I drove by Archer’s Bay yesterday where they are making preparations for this grand event on Tuesday, and that area has been cleaned up substantially. I mean, like, that place looks impressive, the amount of work that has gone on there. So, clearly, the relevant agencies are paying attention.”
Dr Henry is hoping that her company’s project will eliminate any likely Sargassum impact on tourism by the end of the first quarter of next year.
“Hopefully by 2026, that would have no impact on tourists in Barbados, because we will be catching it before it comes to Barbados,” she said.
emmanueljoseph@barbadostoday.bb
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