Rum, sargassum and manure could prove a heady mix that could power vehicles in the island’s clean energy push as a Barbadian biotech firm partners with Barbados National Oil Company Ltd (BNOCL) to set up a pilot biogas service station.
The biofuel station, to be housed at BNOCL’s Woodbourne base, intends to turn problems into profits – combining masses of stinking sargassum seaweed that clogs the nation’s coastline each year, along with the wastewater from rum-making and Barbados Blackbelly sheep manure to create clean fuel, as the island continues its drive to achieve become fossil-fuel-free by 2030.
BNOCL recently hosted an update meeting with representatives from Rum and Sargassum Inc., the firm behind the clean energy initiative, and a European Commission delegation led by Myriam Ferran, the Deputy Director-General of International Partnerships, the oil company said in a brief statement.
Rum and Sargassum Inc. harnesses locally sourced organic inputs to produce affordable and fossil fuel-free renewable compressed natural gas. Its CEO and Founder Dr Legena Henry stressed the significance of leveraging sargassum-based biogas as a clean and renewable energy source. She said the move represents a substantial step toward reducing dependence on fossil fuels and mitigating greenhouse gas emissions, aligning with Barbados’ commitment to a sustainable future.
The CEO highlighted an ambitious goal of providing cheap transport fuel for 60 per cent of the country’s road traffic, to meet the challenge of high prices for imported fossil fuels and bolster the nation’s long-term energy security.
The Woodbourne-based pilot biogas service station is to serve as a tangible demonstration of the viability and scalability of biogas as a sustainable energy solution, according to the state-owned energy enterprise.
BNOCL said Dr Henry’s vision resonated positively with investors, as it gave upbeat reports.
“From all reports, the investors are happy with the progress of the project and BNOCL is excited to be a part of this energy-efficient initiative to assist in propelling Barbados closer to meeting global environmental targets,” it added.
In March this year, Dr Henry disclosed to Barbados TODAY that a network of eco-stations will eventually be set up across the island to allow motorists to buy the biogas.
“Similarly to how you can walk up to the dispenser at the gas station and
get gasoline, it’s as simple as walking up to the bio-gas dispenser instead
and getting our fuel. It will be the same technology as CNG [compressed natural gas] in terms of the hardware. The hardware is the same as the CNG hardware, but the energy inside of it is renewable,” she said.
(PR/BT)
