Renewable Energy in the Food, Energy, Water Nexus of the Bahamas

UNIVERSITY OF PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND Renewable Energy in the Food, Energy, Water Nexus of the Bahamas By ROSS JOHN BEATTY A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE FACULTY OF ARTS, IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS IN ISLAND STUDIES CHARLOTTETOWN, PRINCE EDWARD ISLAND APRIL 2015 © ROSS JOHN BEATTY 2015 Abstract As the global population increases, so does global demand for energy, water and food expand. Meeting this continual spike of demand presents a tremendous challenge to Small Island States, given competing needs for limited resources amid heightened climate change. In order to overcome the increasing constraints that Small Island States encounter, serious consideration must be given with respect to how Small Island States produce and consume energy, produce water and provide food to their citizens. This critical tri-partied interaction is known as the Nexus. The interlinkage between the water, energy and food supply systems is a major consideration in countries’ sustainable development strategies. Rapid economic growth, expanding populations and increasing prosperity are driving up demand for energy, water and food, especially in the Small Island States in the developing countries. Advancements in renewable energy technologies provide access to cost-effective, secure and environmentally sustainable supplies of energy. Their rapid technology advancements can have substantial spill-over effects in the water and food sectors. Yet detailed knowledge on the role renewables can play in the management of the Nexus remains limited and widely dispersed, let alone aggressively practiced or not practiced in small island countries such as the Bahamas. Renewable energy technologies could address some of the trade-offs between water, energy and food, bringing substantial benefits in all three sectors. The objective of the Thesis is to explore whether Small Island States such as the Bahamas are taking full advantage of the current technology available to manage their Nexus. The Thesis primarily uses government policies and press reporting on Bahamian renewable energy projects, and how these programs influence the water, energy and food requirements for the Bahamas. (IV) The term “energy-water-food Nexus” refers to the complex interdependencies between energy, water and agriculture that vary by geography. The Nexus refers to the web of interactions that link energy, water and food in a common system, as growing food requires water, processing water requires power, and hydro-electric power generation requires water. Depleting the natural resources of islands to the point of annihilation is verifiable in island countries such as the Easter Islands. Small islands are a microcosm of the Earth. To study small island Nexus topics is an opportunity to understand the challenges experienced all over the world. (V) Acknowledgements First, I must thank UPEI Professor Emeritus of Economics, Dr. Palanisamy Nagarajan, my sage supervisor, a renowned political scientist and economist, island scholar, and a pillar of knowledge. His constant encouragement when the rooms were the darkest, and his vision for a better tomorrow are read by thousands in his submissions to our local newspapers and international conferences, kept me focused one small step at a time. I also owe a very sincere acknowledgement of appreciation to UPEI’s Canada Past Research Chair in Island Studies, Dr. Godfrey Baldacchino. His dedication to the advancement of island studies at the University of Prince Edward Island as well as throughout the world has brought the highest level of scholarly works to the world. I must also thank UPEI Professor of Economics, Dr. Barry Bartmann, a world recognized scholar of distinction, who has also been an inspiration in my scholarly work. It is primarily through their concerted efforts that I have taken a large step in my learning adventure. I wish to thank my External Examiner Dr Tanya Chung Tiam Fook for taking time from your valuable schedule to provide learned reflection and review of this Thesis. My sincere thanks to the many scholars from whom I have had the honour of learning a great deal while completing this research: the aforementioned Drs. Bartmann and Baldacchino; UPEI Professor Emeritus of Economics, Dr. Palanisamy Nagarajan; Dr. Laurie Brinklow; Dr. James Randall, and to my fellow members of the UPEI Islands Studies Steering Committee Dr. Susan Graham, Dr. Suzanne Thomas, Dr. Edward MacDonald, Patricia MacCauley, Dr. Andrew Trivett, Dr. Carolyn Peach Brown, Dr. Neb Kujundric, and Dr. Doreley Coll, who all added to an enriched Masters of Island Studies platform for myself and my fellow students. And a special (VI) note of gratitude to Laura Lee Howard MA, for her support and her continual and infectious and encouraging smiles as I asked my numerous questions of her. A sincere note of gratitude to the UPEI and the many campus community members, far too numerous to name, who are involved with the Island Studies extended family. Additional recognition is due to the staff of Robertson Library, and to the many partner academic libraries across Canada from whom I received materials through the inter-library loan system. To my fellow Island Studies colleagues, thank you for your friendships, learned opinions and your enthusiasm and your frequent attendance at the UPEI Wave, our local establishment of casual and social meetings of higher learning. Sincere gratitude to Dr. and Mrs. Meincke for the Dr. Peter and Mrs. Donna Meincke Scholarship, which played a significant role in supporting my research. Also, sincere gratitude to the Andrew Carnegie Foundation for its significant support of my island studies research work. And finally, the much appreciated support of the Bill and Denise Andrew Scholarship, that was of valuable assistance in the continuation of my research. I am sincerely indebted to my parents Allan and Jessie Beatty, and my children Clare, Brendan, Rhyanne and Evan Beatty for their love and support through these four years of scholastic focus. It has meant time away from my family, during times when they understood their father’s wishes to study. Please note that all correspondences, legislation and facts are current as of March 31, 2015. Any errors or omissions are the fault of my own, and I look forward to continue to delve into and assist the opportunities for sustainable islands. (VII) Table of Contents Abstract ..................................................................................................................... IV Acknowledgements ................................................................................................... V List of Illustrations..................................................................................................... XI Chapter One: Introduction…………………………………………………………. 1 1.1 Thesis Significance …………………………………………………………… 1 1.2 Why Study the Bahamas Nexus? ……………………………………… 3 1.3 Brief History of the Bahamas ……………………………………………… 4 1.4 My Dear Young Bahamians ………. ………………………………………... 8 1.5 Political Parties…………………………………………………………………. 11 1.6 Research Questions …………………………………………………………. 14 1.7 Theoretical Approach …………………………………………………….. 14 2.0 Bahamas sustainable Goals…………………………………………………….. 17 2.1 Bahamas Charter of Governance 2012 ………………………………………. 18 2.2 The Bahamas New Strategies to Reduce Demand …………………………….. 20 2.3 Increasing Bahamas Electric Corporation Efficiency ……………………….. 20 2.4 Advancements in Technology can Propel the Bahamas ……………………… 22 2.5 Saltwater Algae Innovations ………………………………………………….. 25 2.6 Inagua Salt Mining – Morton Salt …………………………………………... 26 2.7 Bahamas Signs Deal to Upgrade its Water and Sewage Facilities …………… 28 2.8 Nexus Role in Bahamar not Opening on Time ………………………………. 30 3.0 Bahamas Eco-Forum and the Future of Bahamas Electric Corporation ……….. 34 (VIII) 3.1 Bahamas Economy - Bahamas Requiring $1bn in Short-Term Infrastructure ….. 37 3.2 Bahamas Imports 2002-2015……………………………………………… 39 3.3 Bahamas Exports 2002-2015 …………………………………………… 40 3.4 Bahamas Current Account to GDP 1976-2015 ………………………… 41 3.5 Bahamas Produces 'Only 10 Per Cent of What It Consumes’ …………. 44 3.6 Food Scarcity Risk Creates Need for Investment: ……………………. 44 3.7 Prime Minister Christie Addresses United Nations Forum …………………….. 47 ************************************* 4.0 Bahamas Could use Family Planning ………………………………….. 50 4.1 Water Needs in the Bahamas ……………………………………………… 52 4.2 Core Objective One, Literature Review ……………………………….. 56 4.3 The Stockholm Environmental Institute …………………………………… 65 4.4 Core Objective Two, Analysis of a Small Island State ………………………… 65 4.5 Bahamas could be the Agents of the New Age, the New Resolution …………. 66 4.6 Renewable Energy Technology Advantages …………………………………. 67 5.0 Brundtland Commission ………………………………………………….. 69 5.1 Bonn2011 Nexus Conference Objectives …………………………………….. 72 5.2 Club of Rome …………………………………………………………………. 73 5.3 Managing the Nexus, Challenges in Small Island States ……………………… 74 6.0 Are there any Basic Shared Characteristics of Sustainable Island Life? …………. 76 6.1 Does Island Size Make a Difference? If so, how? …………………………….. 78 6.2 Notions of Island Self-Sufficiency …………………………………………… 79 (IX) 6.3 Can an Isolated Island like the Bahamas be Self-Sufficient? ……………………. 80 6.4 Small Island States and Peak Oil ………………………………………………. 80 6.5 How the Peak Oil Theory Impacts Small Island States ………………………… 83 6.6 Energy Technology Source Changes ………………………………………. 85 6.7 Populations Push Unknowingly Hard on the Sustainable Island Envelop ………

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