The 2023 Energy Development Scholarship winners are Adeko Collymore and Kyle Nero.
Mr. Collymore will pursue a Master’s of Science degree in Offshore Wind Energy, at the University of Strathclyde, while Mr. Nero will study for a Master’s of Science degree in Data Science for Renewable Energy, at the University of Exeter, both in the United Kingdom.
During a brief ceremony today at the Ministry’s headquarters, Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, congratulated the young men, as she encouraged more young people to get involved in the renewable energy sector.
“There is no question that we are in a race to 2030, which is the Barbados target. There is also no question that there are any number of challenges along that path, to be able to reach the target of 2030, and one of the challenges that Barbados must overcome is the development of critical skills…to enable us to meet the demands of the sector….
“I want to commend both of you for being amenable to risk-taking and being first movers in spaces that many may not have yet gone, in the numbers that we need them to go. I want to encourage more young people to look at renewable energy in a new way, and to come into the space, upskilling in many instances existing skills, and looking at new skills that are available,” Senator Cummins stated.
Speaking about Mr. Collymore, the Minister said he currently works in the onshore wind space, as she noted that Barbados has a target of 340 megawatts in its energy planning for solar photovoltaic.
“We are already in the pipeline at around 303 megawatts in 2023. We are nowhere near the similar target for wind, but Mr. Collymore and the companies that they work with…are already functioning in the space. And it takes that kind of innovation, that kind of willingness to take on new risks and new challenges that we’re looking for in the renewable energy space.
“Technology is so fast moving; the industry globally is equally fast moving and so the willingness to go into uncharted territory, so to speak, is going to be critical for us to develop new skills,” she indicated.
With regard to Mr. Nero’s choice of study, Senator Cummins said it is an important area, as she pointed out that data will enable officials to make better and more empirically-driven decisions.
The Energy Development Scholarship has been launched in collaboration with the Ministry’s offshore licensee Woodside Energy, which has been working with Government to develop local content, capacity and skills.
Director of the Natural Resources Department, Jamar White, explained that the Energy Development Scholarship seeks to provide opportunities for training in the broader energy sector, mindful of the global commitments to climate change, energy transition, and Barbados’ objectives and goals in the national energy policy.
“So, we believe that the Energy Development Scholarship is timely and critical to our future,” Mr. White stated.
Minister Cummins and Mr. White thanked Woodside Energy for its invaluable contribution. The scholarship winners are expected to leave the island shortly.