A presentation on the role of renewable energy towards sustainable development in small island states. Delivered at the Bermuda College (26/01/2015) as their Corange Science week guest speaker.

1. Unexpected yet understandable…Unexpected yet understandable…
Bermuda as seen from the International Space Station (NASA, 2008)
Development as a barrier to renewable
energy in Bermuda
Acknowledgements:
- Interview participants
- Dr Andrew Peters
- Dr Mark Guishard
- Wedco, BELCO, Rubis
- Bermuda Dept of Energy
- NGO’s (Greenrock/BEST)

2. Research BackgroundResearch Background
 PhD studies between
2008 - 2014
 On-island research
between 2009 -2010
 Original thesis title “Role
of renewable energy
towards sustainable
development in Small
Island States”
 Bermuda used as a case
study
 PhD studies between
2008 - 2014
 On-island research
between 2009 -2010
 Original thesis title “Role
of renewable energy
towards sustainable
development in Small
Island States”
 Bermuda used as a case
study
Founder’s Building,
Royal Holloway University of London
(CC Image courtesy of Minh Minh3 on
Flickr)

3. Research BackgroundResearch Background
 PhD studies between
2008 - 2014
 On-island research
between 2009 -2010
 Original thesis title “Role
of renewable energy
towards sustainable
development in Small
Island States”
 Bermuda used as a case
study
 PhD studies between
2008 - 2014
 On-island research
between 2009 -2010
 Original thesis title “Role
of renewable energy
towards sustainable
development in Small
Island States”
 Bermuda used as a case
study
Founder’s Building,
Royal Holloway University of London
(CC Image courtesy of Minh Minh3 on
Flickr)

4. Research Context
- Bermuda’semphasison
sustainabledevelopment
Research Context
- Bermuda’semphasison
sustainabledevelopment
Alex Scott
(CC Image courtesy of plpleader on Flickr)

5. Research Context
- Key considerationsof sustainable
development
Research Context
- Key considerationsof sustainable
development

6. Research Context
- Vulnerabilitiesof Small
Island States
Research Context
- Vulnerabilitiesof Small
Island States
Geographical
- small in size, isolated
Political
- less politically stable, easily influenced by external and internal forces,
colonial legacies
Economic
- rely on importation of food, fuels, etc., prone to monopolies, sensitive to
global price fluctuations
Social
- impacts of crime, disease, etc. more pronounced
Environment
- less resilient to environmental change, lack power to mitigate against
global environmental forces, vulnerable to climate change effects

7. What is
sustainable
development?
What is
sustainable
development?
 Sustainable development can mean many different things
to different people.
 Defining sustainable development is rather difficult as its
meaning can differ depending on who is defining it and
what their intentions may be (Redclift et al. 1994; Adams
2009).
 Consideration of spatial and temporal dynamics are also
significant in determining “what is sustainable and to who”
(Forsyth 2003).
 Problematic is how often flagrant contradictions can exist
between what is sustainable development, who it is
important to and why (Swyngedouw in Krueger & Gibbs
2007).
 Sustainable development can mean many different things
to different people.
 Defining sustainable development is rather difficult as its
meaning can differ depending on who is defining it and
what their intentions may be (Redclift et al. 1994; Adams
2009).
 Consideration of spatial and temporal dynamics are also
significant in determining “what is sustainable and to who”
(Forsyth 2003).
 Problematic is how often flagrant contradictions can exist
between what is sustainable development, who it is
important to and why (Swyngedouw in Krueger & Gibbs
2007).
Development that meetstheneedsof the
futurewithout compromising theneeds
of futuregenerations.
(Bruntland Commission 1987)
Development that meetstheneedsof the
futurewithout compromising theneeds
of futuregenerations.
(Bruntland Commission 1987)

8. Research ContextResearch Context
Bermudaasan ‘urban and developed’
Small Island State
Bermudaasan ‘urban and developed’
Small Island State

9. Framing theresults
- Energy security
dimensions
Framing theresults
- Energy security
dimensions
Dimensions of energy security
(Kruyt et al, 2009)
Dimensions of energy security in relation to
sustainable development across the geographic
scale (Author’s own, 2014)

10. Research MethodsResearch Methods

11. Research MethodsResearch Methods

12. Findings- Social AccessibilityFindings- Social Accessibility
How is energy differently accessible to people and society based on social identity such as
demographic differences? How does social phenomenon such as energy use behaviours
play different roles in people’s lives?

13. Findings- Social AccessibilityFindings- Social Accessibility
Fuel imports (barrels per year)Fuel imports (barrels per year)
Bermuda Government Department of Energy, 2009Bermuda Department of Statistics, 2009
Population density (personsper km2
)Population density (personsper km2
)Electricity sales - Bermuda (kWh)Electricity sales - Bermuda (kWh)
Bermuda Government Department of Energy, 2009
0
2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000
16000
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Bermuda
Cuba
Cyprus
Japan
US
UK
Electrical power consumption (kW/h per capita)Electrical power consumption (kW/h per capita)
Author’s own compiled using various sources, 2014

14. Findings- Technical AccessibilityFindings- Technical Accessibility
 Technical aspect of energy underpins social
accessibility.
 Many SIDS do not have a well developed technical
infrastructure.
 Positive - act as a blank slate for (technical) energy
reform like renewable energy integration.
 Bermuda - urban and developed - places constraints
on potential for change and reform
 Urban and developed nature exacerbates space
constraints.
 Technical aspect of energy underpins social
accessibility.
 Many SIDS do not have a well developed technical
infrastructure.
 Positive - act as a blank slate for (technical) energy
reform like renewable energy integration.
 Bermuda - urban and developed - places constraints
on potential for change and reform
 Urban and developed nature exacerbates space
constraints.
How is energy differently accessible to people and society based on aspects of technology
and technological considerations?

16. Findings- Technical AccessibilityFindings- Technical Accessibility
 Energy disconnectedness
 Energy user ‘grounded-ness’ suffers as a result
of our urban and developed nature
- shilling meter - direct point of use --> Dial meter
and meter man --> Digital meter and meter man
--> ‘read at a distance’ meter
--> Online monitoring
- Acts a barrier to our sensitivity to energy use
and thus as a barrier to energy reform.
- Renewable energy actually may help as it brings
the energy point closer to home.
 Energy disconnectedness
 Energy user ‘grounded-ness’ suffers as a result
of our urban and developed nature
- shilling meter - direct point of use --> Dial meter
and meter man --> Digital meter and meter man
--> ‘read at a distance’ meter
--> Online monitoring
- Acts a barrier to our sensitivity to energy use
and thus as a barrier to energy reform.
- Renewable energy actually may help as it brings
the energy point closer to home.

17. Findings- Technical AccessibilityFindings- Technical Accessibility
 Vulnerable user groups - disabled, elderly
(technical illiteracy), small businesses (taxis)
 How will renewable energy benefit or work for
them?
 Vulnerable user groups - disabled, elderly
(technical illiteracy), small businesses (taxis)
 How will renewable energy benefit or work for
them?
“My scooter requires charging daily
(usually). However, if I didn't venture
out too far the previous day, I won't
charge it.” (Quote 3.3.1 - Extract from
an e-mail interview with a resident
with disability [RESI 1D].)

18. She saw energy as what is provided by BELCO (Quote 3.3.10 -
Extract from researcher’s notes during an interview with a resident
[10H], 23/12/09).
Respondent stated that when she thinks of the word energy she
tends to think of electricity. She said she also thinks about
‘spiritual energy’. (Quote 3.3.11 - Extract from researcher’s notes
during an interview with a resident [11H], 23/12/09).
“I tend to think about my own personal energy. I never think about
‘lectrics’ (electrics). I think about my own energy – how am I
feeling today, etc.” (Quote 3.3.12 - Extract from an interview with
an elderly expat long-term resident [12H], 23/12/09).
Findings- Technical AccessibilityFindings- Technical Accessibility

19. Findings- Economic AccessibilityFindings- Economic Accessibility
 Greater affordability - greater access - greater diversity of
choice
 Small island states more expensive - imports and lack of
economy of scale
 Suggestion is that renewable energy is more affordable in
SIS due to high energy cost
 $90 million was spent in both 2007 and 2008 to import fuels
for the production of electricity and for use in transportation.
 Greater affordability - greater access - greater diversity of
choice
 Small island states more expensive - imports and lack of
economy of scale
 Suggestion is that renewable energy is more affordable in
SIS due to high energy cost
 $90 million was spent in both 2007 and 2008 to import fuels
for the production of electricity and for use in transportation.
“The cost of electricity in Bermuda. No matter how we tried to cut back, the
bills were not coming down. With the surcharge they add to your bill you
have no control of that or the price of oil. We are coming up to retirement
and on fixed income. It was a no-brainer. We wanted to forward plan.”
Quote 3.4.5 - Extract from an interview with a resident with a
renewable energy system installed [RESI 2], 23/12/09).

20. Do you make an effort to conserve energy at
home?
Do you make an effort to conserve energy at
home?

21. Findings- Economic AccessibilityFindings- Economic Accessibility
 Also a barrier
 Technical lock in and economic lock in -
Utility doesn’t want to take such a high risk.
 Shareholders? Jobs? Support services?
Government taxes?
 High material benefit = Comfort over cost
 Also a barrier
 Technical lock in and economic lock in -
Utility doesn’t want to take such a high risk.
 Shareholders? Jobs? Support services?
Government taxes?
 High material benefit = Comfort over cost
“The cost of electricity in Bermuda. No matter how we tried to cut back, the
bills were not coming down. With the surcharge they add to your bill you
have no control of that or the price of oil. We are coming up to retirement
and on fixed income. It was a no-brainer. We wanted to forward plan.”
Quote 3.4.5 - Extract from an interview with a resident with a
renewable energy system installed [RESI 2], 23/12/09).

22. Findings- Economic AccessibilityFindings- Economic Accessibility
 Cost of integration is a barrier
 Equipment, planning, insurance, batteries
 What is sustainable development and to who? Who would
benefit?
 Wealthy had more exposure to renewable energy so more likely
to integrate.
 Cost of integration is a barrier
 Equipment, planning, insurance, batteries
 What is sustainable development and to who? Who would
benefit?
 Wealthy had more exposure to renewable energy so more likely
to integrate.
Interviewer: What was your rationale for installing the system - cost savings, environmental
considerations, etc.?
“Well it certainly makes NO financial sense to do this. In a few years time, given the near
exponential price / performance curve of PV, it will make a lot more sense. (Company name
removed), like all such companies, gave us various models and projections on how we'd save
money. That at worst the system would pay for itself in 15 years. This is BS though, as 1) they
idealize the amount of power you generate. 2/3 of the day there is no useful sunlight, even in
summer! They also forget about the cost of money ... a lump sum given to them today has a time-
value growth of at least 5%, which they typically discount completely. The cost of our system was
in the region of 250K, more than most because of our desire to make it aesthetically pleasing”
(Quote 3.4.23 - Extract from an interview with a resident with a renewable energy system
installed, [RESI 3], 23/12/09).

23. Do you know anyone with a renewable energy device?Do you know anyone with a renewable energy device?
Income categories: Lower class Ğ$0 to $30,000; Middle class Ğ$30,000 to $50,000; and Upper
class Ğ>$50,000.

24. Findings- Environmental
Accessibility
Findings- Environmental
Accessibility
 Environmental geography - Space! Environmental geography - Space!

25. Findings- Environmental
Accessibility
Findings- Environmental
Accessibility
 Urban and developed nature - NIMBY more pronounced
 Utility forced to use less efficiently engines due to space
constraints.
 Urban and developed islands - ecosystems are more
susceptible to change / less space / less buffer / less resilient
 Climate change - greater susceptibility
 Influences building choices - less adaptable to renewable
energy integration
 Urban and developed nature - NIMBY more pronounced
 Utility forced to use less efficiently engines due to space
constraints.
 Urban and developed islands - ecosystems are more
susceptible to change / less space / less buffer / less resilient
 Climate change - greater susceptibility
 Influences building choices - less adaptable to renewable
energy integration

26. When do weneed energy?When do weneed energy?
BELCO Energy system discussion 2006

27. Solar irradiation over theyear w/m2Solar irradiation over theyear w/m2Wind energy over theyearWind energy over theyearSolar irradiation over theday w/m2Solar irradiation over theday w/m2
Solar irradiation w/m2
- selected months
Solar irradiation w/m2
- selected months

28. Findings- Political AccessibilityFindings- Political Accessibility

29. Findings- Political AccessibilityFindings- Political Accessibility

30. Key FindingsKey Findings
- ‘Urban and developed’ island - unique
sustainable development challenges
- Role of renewable energy needs to be
considered before claiming it is a pathway
towards greater energy security and thus SD
- Vulnerable user groups must be considered.
- More research required…
- ‘Urban and developed’ island - unique
sustainable development challenges
- Role of renewable energy needs to be
considered before claiming it is a pathway
towards greater energy security and thus SD
- Vulnerable user groups must be considered.
- More research required…

31. Thank you…