Strategic Planning Meeting of the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE)

A Strategic Planning Meeting of the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) was held 22-23 November, 2018 following the Caribbean Sustainable Energy Forum (CSEF) VI in Placencia, Belize. At the Planning Meeting, agreed to the following CCREEE vision: "Transforming the energy landscape into a climate resilient, sustainable and affordable sector; focused on improving the lives of our people".

Back in April, the requisite number of ratifications were deposited with the CARICOM Secretariat to establish the Centre’s legal identity and to operationalise it. The Centre began its operations in May 2018 and is expected to improve the quantity and quality of programmes and projects in sustainable energy within the Region. Energy plays a critical part in supporting the sustainable development of Caribbean countries and the action-oriented Community institution will lead to improvements in sustainable energy production, delivery and use, through increased renewable energy applications and energy efficiency measures. During the first operational phase, the Strategic Priorities of the Centre are to:

• Create: Develop a Knowledge Hub aimed at enhancing capacity within the regional energy sector; allows for access to curated human resources and uses smart data that drives decision making
• Optimize: Support and accelerate innovative applications of technology, policy and finance through the development of tools. Inclusive of but not limited to Risk reduction; Financial incentives; Technical assistance.
• Embed and Transform: Utilize sustainable energy as a means to advance the well-being of at risk and vulnerable groups

The Centre works closely with the CARICOM Secretariat’s Energy Unit and will report to the Ministerial Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED). It will provide the Energy Unit and other local and international partners with the required technical implementation and execution capacities. The centre receives technical support by UNIDO and and financial assistance from the Governments of Austria and Spain.