Page 35 - Green Builder Magazine Jan-Feb 2018 Issue

CREDIT: UK DEPARTMENT OF INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENT Wipeout. Scenes like this on
the Caribbean island of Jost
Van Dyke northwest of Tortola
were all too common following
Hurricane Irma’s passage in
September 2017.

■ Analyzing combinations of energy efficiency and centralized and partnerships (PPPs); or typical capital improvement loans;
distributed energy generation options and their impacts on the existing ■ Supporting the contract negotiation process;
grid, along with their costs; ■ Supervising construction to ensure that best practices and safety
■ Identifying existing vulnerabilities in the grid (from disasters, overloads or standards are implemented;
other issues), and the opportunities to strengthen the grid. ■ Commissioning the system with the local island utility, the contractor
The second step is project identification and resilient development. Once and a third-party engineer.
the planning process identifies the possible investment projects, the next The efforts in all three components are mutually reinforcing. The rapid
phase of the effort focuses on increasing the investment opportunity in integrated resource planning work identifies optimal climate resilient projects
targeted Caribbean islands by creating more-detailed plans and reducing the to pursue. Project derisking ensures high quality and attractive investment-
overall risks. The process includes: ready projects. Meanwhile, project financing and construction oversight
■ Identifying the mix of resources that will meet a specific island country’s support ensures the rapid quality deployment of these projects—enabling
needs at least cost and determining the best place to install those beneficiaries to see the myriad benefits, including lower costs and increased
resources; reliability and resiliency.
■ Performing a detailed financial and economic analysis; This, in turn, reinforces the value of the integrated plan and the iterative
■ Preparing the sites for development and commercialization. process continues. Moving forward with this process yields faster, higher-
The third step is project financing and construction. Once resilient, quality and lower-cost projects, making it possible to accelerate the transition
renewable projects are developed and considered investment ready, affected to a stronger, cleaner, more sustainable future. GB
countries need support in mobilizing concessionary and grant financing and
private sector capital to turn those proposed projects into steel in the ground. The Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) engages businesses, communities,
They also need support in supervising construction to ensure safety and institutions and entrepreneurs to accelerate adoption of market-based solutions
building standards are met. This support includes: that cost-effectively shift from fossil fuels to efficiency and renewables.
■ Determining the right financial structures such as power purchase Christopher Burgess is director of projects for RMI’s Islands Energy Program
agreements (PPAs); build, own, operate, transfer (BOOT); public-private (IEP). Justin Locke is the IEP’s director. Stephen Doig is RMI’s managing director.

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