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Powering the Caribbean: The Promise of Renewable Energy

Over 85% of electricity generation in many Caribbean nations relies on costly fossil fuel imports, resulting in some of the highest electricity costs globally.

Add to Calendar 29-05-2025 12:38 29-05-2025 12:39 America/New_York Powering the Caribbean: The Promise of Renewable Energy Hello,\n\nThis is a reminder to join us virtually on World Bank: Powering the Caribbean: The Promise of Renewable Energy \n\nAbout the event: Over 85% of electricity generation in many Caribbean nations relies on costly fossil fuel imports, resulting in some of the highest electricity costs globally. \n\nGo to event page: https://www.worldbank.org/en/events/2025/05/21/powering-the-caribbean-the-promise-of-renewable-energy \n\nWe look forward to seeing you! \n\n WORLD BANK - https://www.worldbank.org \nDevelopment Events Brought to You Live Online

Energy Webinar - Caribbean

Date & Time

May 29, 2025

12:38 PM - 12:39 PM ET

Location

Zoom

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OVERVIEW
AGENDA
SPEAKERS

The Caribbean is at a crucial stage in its pursuit of energy security, economic resilience, and sustainability. Over 85% of electricity generation in many Caribbean nations relies on costly fossil fuel imports, resulting in some of the highest electricity costs globally. Despite the region’s abundant renewable energy resources—solar, wind, geothermal, and hydropower— and new technologies like Seawater Air Conditioning, development is hindered by infrastructure limitations, investment challenges, and regulatory barriers.

Enhancing Energy Efficiency

Energy efficiency is crucial for reducing electricity demand and optimizing energy use across buildings, transportation, and industries. Air conditioning alone accounts for up to 60% of electricity consumption in some Caribbean nations. Implementing energy-efficient building codes, retrofitting structures, and adopting smart, cooling technologies—such super-efficient air conditioners and chillers, district cooling systems, and Seawater Air Conditioning (SWAC) can significantly reduce energy consumption and costs.

Strengthening Regional Connectivity

The small, isolated electricity markets in the Caribbean present challenges for economies of scale in renewable energy deployment and energy efficiency implementation. Greater regional cooperation and harmonization of equipment standards and building codes etc. can address these barriers by fostering knowledge sharing, joint investments, and inter-island energy networks. Caribbean energy interconnections could enable nations with surplus renewable energy to export power, improving energy security and optimizing resource use.

The Caribbean has a unique opportunity to transform its energy sector by scaling up renewables, improving efficiency, and strengthening regional cooperation. By leveraging natural resources and emerging technologies, the region can transition away from costly fossil fuels and build a low-carbon, energy-secure, and resilient future that benefits economies and communities.

Got questions?: Contact wbcaribbean@worldbank.org

Register on Zoom

11:00 a.m.	Event Opening - Fatima Arroyo-Arroyo, Infrastructure Program Leader, World Bank
11:03 a.m.	Welcome Remarks - Lilia Burunciuc, Division Director – Caribbean, World Bank
11:13 a.m.	WBG Presentation - Neha Mukhi, Senior Energy Specialist, World Bank
11:35 a.m.	Panel Introduction
11:38 a.m.	Panel Discussion + Audience Q&A
12:15 p.m.	Event Closing

Lilia Burunciuc

Division Director - Caribbean

Lilia Burunciuc is the Division Director - Caribbean. Ms. Burunciuc, a Moldovan national, is responsible for maintaining the partnership with the countries to address their development challenges.

Since joining the World Bank in 1996, she held a range of increasingly challenging positions: Director for Central Asia; Manager in Operations Policy and Country Services; Country Manager for Macedonia; Country Program Coordinator for Southern Africa and Central Asia; and Senior Country Officer for Ukraine and Belarus.

She has extensive experience on leading policy dialogue with governments on various aspects of development.

Prior to joining the Bank, Ms. Burunciuc was a Deputy Governor of the National Bank of Moldova, the country’s central bank.

She has a Master’s degree in Public Administration from George Washington University (USA) and a Master’s level degree in Economics, Management and Planning from the Technical University of Moldova.

Kurt Inglis

Head of the Energy and Public Utilities Division at Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport

Kurt Inglis is the Head of the Energy and Public Utilities Division at Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Infrastructure, Ports and Transport. He is responsible for leading national efforts to modernize energy systems and implement policies that support the transition to renewable energy.

Previously, he served as an Energy Officer with the Global Green Growth Institute, where he advanced regional initiatives such as the Eastern Caribbean Solar Challenge and supported solar PV adoption across OECS countries.

He has extensive experience in bridging technical expertise with policy development, including work on electric vehicle incentives, technician training, and participation in international climate negotiations.

Mr. Inglis holds a Master’s degree in Renewable Energy from the University of Madrid Rey Juan Carlos (Spain) and is a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) and NABCEP PV Associate.

Neha Mukhi

Senior Energy and Climate Change Specialist at the World Bank

Neha Mukhi is a Senior Energy and Climate Change Specialist at the World Bank, based in Washington, DC. She leads energy sector engagements in Latin America and the Caribbean, focusing on sustainable finance and resilient clean energy transitions.

She currently leads the development of the Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment Facility (RREIIF) in the Caribbean, which aims to mobilize private capital for affordable and resilient energy. She also supports global efforts to integrate resilience into energy sector planning.

Previously, she led climate engagement in South Africa and supported clean energy strategies in East and South Asia.

Ms. Mukhi holds an M.S. in Energy and Climate Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Delhi College of Engineering, India.

Fatima Arroyo Arroyo

Program Leader of Infrastructure for Caribbean Countries - World Bank

Fatima Arroyo Arroyo is the Program Leader of Infrastructure for Caribbean Countries at the World Bank. Her experience in infrastructure sector spans across Africa, Central Asia, Southeast Asia, and Latin America & the Caribbean. In her more recent assignment in Kingston, Jamaica, she oversees the World Bank transport, energy, digital, urban and disaster portfolios in the Caribbean.

Fatima holds a Master's degree in Civil Engineering from both École Nationale des Ponts et Chaussées and Universidad Politécnica de Madrid, as well as a Master's degree in International Business Administration from Universidad Internacional Menéndez Pelayo.

Kieran St Omer

Senior Project Officer and Programme Lead for Greening the Financial System at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB)

Kieran St Omer is Senior Project Officer and Programme Lead for Greening the Financial System at the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), where she heads the ECCU’s Greening the Financial System Programme.

She brings over 15 years of regional and international experience in banking, capital markets, regulation, fintech, climate finance, and project management. In her current role, she leads several strategic initiatives including the World Bank-financed ECCU Resilient Renewable Energy Infrastructure Investment Facility, the ECCU Green Finance Strategy, and efforts to enhance money and capital market development.

Ms. St Omer works closely with governments, development partners, and the private sector to mobilise climate finance and support the region’s green energy transition. Her recent projects also promote sustainable banking, green and affordable housing, and infrastructure resilience.

She received the ECCB’s 2021 Impact Award for her leadership on the DCash pilot project and won the 2019 IFC-Milken Institute Capital Market Game-Changer’s Policy Shark Tank for her work on renewable energy financing.

A 2018 Graduate Scholar of the IFC-Milken Institute Capital Market Development Fellowship at George Washington University, she interned at private equity firm Clayton, Dublier & Rice in New York.

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