Barbados launches first Bio-CNG vehicle powered by sargassum
20 September 2024
Principal, Professor Clive Landis next to the sargassum-powered vehicle
Barbados on Tuesday unveiled the world’s first vehicle powered by renewable natural gas (RNG) from Sargassum seaweed, rum distillery wastewater and Blackbelly sheep manure, and The UWI Cave Hill Campus came in for high praise for its pioneering role in this renewable energy project.
Congratulating the university's groundbreaking work, Minister of Energy Lisa Cummins highlighted the importance of diversifying investments in renewable energy beyond traditional solar. She also noted the opportunity which has been created to repurpose Sargassum into a valuable asset for Barbados' renewable energy transition.
Dr. Legena Henry, UWI Lecturer for Renewable Energy and Founder of Rum and Sargassum Inc. (centre), is joined by Principal and Pro Vice-Chancellor Professor Clive Landis, Minister of Energy Lisa Cummins, and project scientists Aria Gooding, Brittaney McKenzie, and Shamika Spencer.
This project is the result of extensive research by scientists at The UWI Cave Hill, in collaboration with Rum and Sargassum Inc. and Supernova Lab of Future Barbados. The vehicle was met with enthusiastic applause as it was driven for several minutes during its debut at Guinea Plantation in St. John.
The car which belongs to the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREE), is now being used as the flagship vehicle of the project and bears the branding “Runs on Sargassum” emblazoned on the trunk.
The minister called for this breakthrough to be viewed not just as a national achievement but as a regional and global model for innovative opportunity. She stressed that this development demonstrates Barbados and The UWI’s capability to lead in the renewable energy sector and should not be underestimated.
“Barbados has pioneered a technology and an innovation that has the ability to change the way in which this entire Caribbean space treats to transportation and I want Barbados to not take that for granted,” Cummins added.
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