The CEO of the leading power supplier in the Turks and Caicos Islands is of the opinion that solar and wind energy are not viable power sources for the territory:
AMID calls for Turks and Caicos to embrace fully wind and sun energy as an alternative to fossil fuels, a leading electricity supplier says that is not likely in the foreseeable future.
Mr Eddinton Powell, CEO of Fortis TCI, the territory’s leading power supplier, told members of the Providenciales Rotary Club early September that there is no imminent replacement of diesel as the main fuel for electricity generation mainly because these renewable energy sources are of a ‘non-firm capacity’ and current technology does not allow for efficient storage of electricity generated by those elements.
As Mr Powell threw cold water on the likelihood of wind and sunshine becoming mainstream sources of energy for electricity generation, he however spoke of another renewable energy source – natural gas – coming on to be a major player alongside diesel while technology makes the other elements more reliable suppliers for power production.
Referring to suggestions that as much as 50 per cent of the electricity should be generated from wind and the sun, Mr Powell said: “The minute the wind stops blowing, or the sun stops shining you would have black out. That is absolutely a fact. … When the wind doesn’t blow, the sun doesn’t shine, it doesn’t work.”
Mr Powell’s presentation to Rotarians on September 13 was in similar vein to one delivered to the Providenciales Chamber of Commerce in February.
Read the full article from the TC Weekly News for more. I feel I should mention that it seems to be the article’s author, not Mr. Powell, who refers to natural gas as a renewable energy source; Mr. Powell is quoted as saying that natural gas could be an economical “bridge to renewable energy”.
[Photo: Matt Hintsa]
My God this idiot is the CEO of the power company, he is totally uninformed on Solar Technology.Instead of just admitting his lack of knowledge in this field, he attempts to project himself as an expert.
Good luck TCI, you will need it with unsuitable persons driving futuristic sustainable endeavours with glaring personal agendas.