Jamaica and St. Kitts & Nevis 2024

Leading full-service solar solutions company Saddle Energy Ltd., a top NABCEP (North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners®) Associate training course in photovoltaics (PV) installation, has effectively finished Zahra Ennis, Marketing Director. Green Solutions International SKN Inc. (GSI), a non-governmental organization (NGO) with Caribbean roots and NABCEP-registered training provider, delivered this industry-leading program.

Advocating Gender Inclusiveness and Energy Equity

Native of St. Kitts and executive director of GSI, Wayne Archibald, is pushing for more funding for workforce development initiatives, particularly with regard to women and people from lower socioeconomic levels. He exhorts funding organizations and island governments to work together to create a varied, inclusive, and energy-independent Caribbean green economy.

Archibald said, “We must write and enact legislation funding training and economic opportunities for underrepresented groups.”

Caribbean E-Mobility and Solar Workforce Training

Supporting the shift from diesel to electric vehicles (EVs), GSI has been actively promoting solar installation and e-mobility solutions. Their attempts cover

• Workers in solar PV certification and training
• Technical mastery for electric vehicle mechanics
• Development of courses for colleges and trade schools
• Studies on public transport conversion feasibility and electric bus viability

GSI also provides government officials with Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) training, which improves project feasibility studies and environmental planning all around the area.

Growing Local Skills to Support the Green Economy

GSI has been especially active since its founding in 2016 to raise local capacity across the Caribbean, support certified solar installations, and enhance solar energy safety criteria. Archibald underlines the need for appropriate certification and issues a warning against unskilled installers:

“Many systems are poorly installed by unqualified individuals”—we want to guarantee safe, efficient solar installations—just like hiring a licensed electrician for a new home.

Regional Capability Development Against Foreign Dependency

Archibald draws attention to a serious problem: many Caribbean governments contract out large-scale solar projects to outside businesses, so ignoring local expertise.

“Massive contracts are given to foreign businesses while local professionals are left behind,” he said. “We must make investments in developing local capacity and giving our people the certifications and training required to propel regional development.”

Financial Advantage of Solar Energy

GSI provides direction on how changing to solar will affect finances:

• Typically costing US$10,000–15,000, residential solar systems pay for themselves in five years by saving energy.
• Reduced energy costs help businesses to have better profit margins.
• Systems range in power from 15 kW; optional battery storage adds around 25% of the total cost.

Archibald said, ” switching to solar is financially sound and environmentally responsible when businesses pay $60,000 or more in monthly utility bills.”

Working with utilities to cut electricity costs.

Archibald emphasizes the need for cooperation even in spite of complaints about regional utility companies:

“We hear complaints like ‘Get rid of JPS,’ but in reality we need cooperation with utilities to lower energy costs and meet our objectives.”

Working with utility companies all around the Caribbean, GSI provides system designers and inspectors with training to guarantee scalable, safe, and efficient solar solutions.

Promoting E-Mobility in OECS

St. Kitts and Nevis hired GSI three years ago to guide their change to electric school buses. This initiative grew to include public transit, studies on charging stations, and mechanic and first responder EV maintenance training. GSI has been very helpful in enabling governments to develop EV courses for local colleges.

Emergency Call to Quickly Reach Energy Independence

Archibald underlined how the Caribbean’s small landmass and plenty of sunlight fit it exactly for the acceptance of 100% renewable energy. Technical education and policy support, however, need to pick speed.

“Our region cannot fully realize energy independence despite our potential without better training and investment in the local workforce,” he said to the Caribbean Business Report.

Finally, he said:

“More businesses should start apprenticeships. Employees have to earn while they grow. Particularly for women and those of African heritage, representation in this sector has to get better if meaningful and inclusive development is to result.“