Barbados’ renewable energy efforts to date were shared by Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley, during a meeting with Vice President of the International Finance Corp’s (IFC) arm of the World Bank, Susan Lund.
During the recent discussions, at Ilaro Court, Ms. Mottley identified the challenges Barbados and other small island developing states encountered in sourcing batteries, battery storage, electric vehicles, and other materials and equipment vital to the renewable energy process.
The Prime Minister also touched on the Home Ownership Providing Energy Project, which provides solar-powered, hurricane resistant homes to low and middle income earners.
Ms. Lund commended the country for its efforts so far, and for being the first recipient of the International Monetary Fund’s Resilience and Sustainability Trust Programme.
The IFC Vice President also praised Ms. Mottley for the Bridgetown Initiative, adding that many of the ideas contained therein were consistent with those enunciated by the new World Bank President, Ajay Banga, regarding the need to expand its lending capacity and revamp its business model to fight climate change and other crises.
Ms. Lund stated that the development of green buildings was another area for future collaboration with the IFC. “We do a lot of work in this area. We’ve actually developed an international standard called the EDGE Tool and it’s amazing…,” she added.