In many ways, Dominica is on the cutting edge of the renewable energy transition. They’re constructing a 10-megawatt geothermal power plant in the Roseau Valley, near the village of Laudat. This public-private partnership includes the Government of Dominica and Ormat Technologies, a US-Israeli renewable energy company. The plant is expected to be operational by the end of this year. Its long-term aim is to reduce the country’s dependence on diesel-powered electricity to zero by 2030.
The geothermal plant will eventually produce enough electricity to supply 50 percent of Dominica’s total peak electricity demand. This far reaching project will take a substantial commitment, specifically millions of US dollars. It is completely funded by grants and investments from four governments—the US, UK, Japan, and New Zealand. The Government of Dominica has made an initial investment of around $15 million (£11.3 million) into this project.
Under newly appointed Energy Minister Dr. Vince Henderson, the territory has adopted an ambitious plan for a sustainable, affordable energy future. He wants to eliminate all diesel generation for electricity in Dominica by 2030. For geothermal to be part of the solution, the project is considered a critical step.
Plant construction has included an elaborate exploration process, including several deep drillings to test the temperature of subsurface beds. This high sunk pre-development cost is indicative of the technical challenges involved in geothermal energy development.
“The rest of the OECS will benefit from the lessons learned here – both what worked and what didn’t,” stated Fred John, Managing Director of Dominica’s Geothermal Development Company. Perhaps most importantly, he used the moment to focus on this project as a test case for an appealing alternative to fossil fuels.
Once operational, the geothermal plant will employ about 30 people in the community. This will create a mighty stimulus to the whole region’s economic development. Doron Blachar from Ormat Technologies highlighted the benefits of geothermal energy, stating, “It brings jobs to a country, both during construction and, more importantly, during the plant’s operations, along with new technology and expertise.” He added, “Geothermal is wonderful, zero-emission power that’s not reliant on wind or solar and runs 24/7.”
Yet, the ambitious project has been exempt from controversy. Local residents are sounding the alarm over threats to the ecologically sensitive Roseau Valley. One of them is environmentalist Atherton Martin, who has spoken out in no uncertain terms. Martin emphasized the unique ecological value of the area: “There is no other area like it in the Caribbean.”
According to other reports, this shift to renewable energy will be advantageous for the growing tourism sector of Dominica. The tiny island hosted 83,966 guests last year, a 13% rise from the year before. That’s because the sustainable energy has been making Dominica more attractive as a travel destination.
Dr. Didacus Jules has emerged as a lead dog in the regional energy conversation. He reiterated the need for the Caribbean to go green as a matter of urgency. He added, “Our community is heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels… Going to environmentally-friendly green energy is not just a good thing; it’s the only thing that will keep us alive.” Jules claimed that this agreement has the potential to revitalize this great idea that has languished. Second, it seeks to unite the islands with a coordinated, clean and dependable regional energy grid.
Dominica’s geothermal project is a promising sign of the Caribbean island nation’s progress toward sustainability and energy independence. As it approaches completion, all stakeholders would be encouraged to see it lead the way for more initiatives just like it across the Caribbean.