Ocean Energy Studies

Challenge

The Government of Barbados tasked a group of six international consultants, led by us, to assess the opportunity for the deployment of Ocean Energy projects in the waters surrounding Barbados.

Solution

This wide ranging project began by using resource models and a range of technical and environmental constraints to identify areas of search for fixed and floating offshore wind and also OTEC (Ocean Thermal Energy Conversion).

Generic turbines, foundations and OTEC plants were designed to meet the resource and metocean conditions by our subcontractors, Ramboll and Makai. We designed the offshore and onshore cables as well as the landing and grid connection as well as conducting environmental studies and GIS mapping.

The designs were costed and a financial analysis was carried out on a number of options with CmY Consultants to identify the most economically feasible projects. These studies were backed with soft market testing to gauge the appetite of investors and developers for a project in Barbados.

At the same time, a policy review was undertaken with JFC Consulting to recommend changes to the regulatory framework. This was used to devise an outline environmental scoping report accounting for local laws and environmental receptors.

This work was complemented by a tourism study and supply chain study to estimate the benefits of introducing Ocean Energy to Barbados.

Finally, a series of workshops were held to disseminate the results of the project to a broad group of Government employees and other stakeholders.

Impact

Offshore wind (especially floating) provides one of the best opportunities for large scale renewable generation in Barbados. The Government of Barbados is currently assessing our recommendations and roadmap to understand how offshore wind could contribute to their ambitious 2030 net zero target.