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Haiti: Renewable Energy

31 Jan 2007

1.0 Renewable energy Overview

Some sources of energy are continually replenished by nature: the sun, the wind, water, plants and the heat of the earth. Several sets of technology convert those fuels into electrify, heat, chemical and mechanical power. Those forms of energy help to reduce the amount of pollutants released into the air on a daily basis, and as a result, decreasing our level of exposure to harmful agents living in our homes and our cities. The objective of this research is to analyze the application (use) of the most efficient green energy available and to identify alternative energy sources to replace or supplement the use of fossil fuel in the Republic of Haiti.

2.0 Haiti, Energy and Budget

Haiti is located between the Caribbean Sea and the North Atlantic Ocean, west of the Dominican Republic. This island is spread over 27,750 square kilometers, and it is habited by over 8 millions people; from which 95% are black and 5% white and mulattos.

Based upon information available through certain US and Haitian governmental agencies 1), Haiti has produced 546 million KWh of electricity in 2003 and consumed 507.8 million (oil consumption 11,800 bbl/day). 69% of electricity was generated by fossil fuel and 31% by hydropower. Other energy sources such as nuclear power, biopower, geothermal, solar energy and wind energy have not been used on a large scale (or at all) by the government or individuals; even though some of these technologies are available in situs (onsite). Note that Haiti did not export or import any electricity throughout the year 2003.

The budget of the Republic of Haiti for 2005 was about 500 million dollars US. The national revenue was estimated at $ 400 million and the nationwide expenditure was $ 600.8 million. Ironically, during that same year, Haiti exported worth of goods for $ 390.7 million and imported for $ 1.4 billion.

Unfortunately, information related to the repartition of the national budget among different ?Departments? was not available; thus we do not know how much money the government spent to generate 546 million KWh of electricity in 2003 and what techniques used to manage/store the 38.2 million KWh leftover.

3.0 Alternative Energy

As a tropical country and an island, Haiti benefits from many abundant sources of energy (solar energy) on a daily basis. The wind from the ocean blows in an average of 20 mile per hour (MPH) and the sun shines approximately at 28oC on an annual basis. The island has 190 sq km of water (although deforestation and erosion are major environmental challenges both on the hills/mountains and in the cities as well). The Haitian government should take advantage of alternative energy as a way to replace the use of fossil fuel and to reduce air and water pollution.

In the following steps, we will be reviewing the energy production capacity of these renewable technologies [photovoltaic (PV), solar energy and towel wind], their cost compare to the Haitian budget and determine the land area over which solar energy will have to be collected to meet the electrical needs of Haiti