Green Hydrogen – Barbados and Seabased join forces for wave energy park.
The Barbados Investment and Development Corporation (BIDC) and Swedish wave energy company Seabased Group have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to build a wave energy park.
One of the key reasons for the construction of this wave energy park is to support Barbados’ green hydrogen research and development, as Barbados aims to lead the Caribbean in the green hydrogen transition.
The MoU, signed on June 7, 2024, details the establishment of a 2 MW pilot wave energy park, with plans to expand to 10 MW or more, to support the BIDC’s green hydrogen facility.
Mark Hill, CEO of BIDC, said:
Barbados is taking a very proactive approach in seeking innovative solutions that will drive energy transitions for islands like ours.
“We must think not only of the land that Barbadians inhabit, but also of the vast ocean surrounding Barbados, maximizing the potential to sustainably utilize the blue resources within our Exclusive Economic Zone. To make our industrial activities greener at a national level, we need to think innovatively.”
“The BIDC is prioritizing the supply of sustainable base electrical energy at lower costs to advance its industrial green hydrogen research and development through scientific innovation in wave technology. Water and sufficient cheap renewable energy are important input elements required for the production of green hydrogen and its derivatives.”
Like other Caribbean islands, Barbados is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels for its energy. The island faces climate risks such as rising sea levels, frequent storms and hurricanes. According to Seabased, the economy is also vulnerable to geopolitical and logistical threats that affect fuel supply and energy production.
Small Island Developing States (SIDS) can benefit from diversifying their energy sources. Barbados showed its willingness to lead this shift from fossil fuels to ocean energy, Seabased said.
Laurent Albert, CEO of Seabased, said:
Seabased and BIDC have identified an area where we believe we can harvest a significant amount of reliable, renewable, clean ocean energy without hindering the other industries – including tourism – that are so important to Barbados.
“Islands like Barbados are unique havens of beauty and biodiversity and we want to be part of helping them meet their energy needs in a way that helps protect that very special ecosystem in their blue and green economies.”
Danish company Wavepiston, together with BIDC, is also exploring the deployment of wave energy farms off the coast of Barbados, due to Barbados’ strong need for renewable energy sources.
In March 2023, Seabased signed an MoU for the development of a 10 MW wave power plant off the coast of the Polynesian country and the archipelagic state of Tonga. The plant is expected to meet half of Tonga’s energy needs and reduce emissions by 20%.
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Green Hydrogen – Barbados and Seabased join forces for wave energy park. source
