Thursday, May 17, 2007

Press Release: Energy Security for Small Island Developing States

George Town, Grand Cayman May 17 2007

The Cayman Institute is in the process of finalizing its report on Energy Security for Small Island Developing States (SIDS) The report, which addresses climate change / global warming, peak oil and the instability of oil producing regions makes the case of the need for a long term energy security plan to ensure supplies of secure, affordable, reliable energy. Abundant and affordable energy is essential for for economic and social development.

The energy systems in many SIDS are ineficient and expensive, and add to national economic vulnerability. Electricity prices are generally between 20 and 35 cents (US) per kilowatt-hour, which is much higher than prices in the USA or Europe(1).
The report stresses the need to promote economic growth while being environmentally as essential. It notes that responding to the potentially devestating effects of climate change in an environmentally responsible manner by tackling carbon emmissions contributed through energy production is an obligation shared globally.

For More Information email: Cayman.Institute@gmail.com



(1) Report by: United Nations Economic Commission for Europe, 2006

Tuesday, May 15, 2007

May 15, 2007
Special Report: Inspired by Ancient Amazonians, a Plan to Convert Trash into Environmental Treasure

New bill in U.S. Senate will advocate adoption of "agrichar" method that could lessen our dependence on fossil fuel and help avert global warming
By Anne Casselman

CHARCOAL like that created by ancient Amazonians or in a modern process called pyrolysis, could be used as a carbon-negative source of fuel and fertilizer
SIDEBAR: The Companies and Organizations Poised to Turn Garbage into Fuel, Fertilizer and a Means of Carbon Sequestration

When Desmond Radlein heard about Richard Branson and Al Gore's Virgin Earth Challenge, a contest in which the first person who can sequester one billion tons of carbon dioxide a year wins $25 million, he got out his pencil and began figuring whether or not his company was up to the task.

Radlein is on the board of directors at Dynamotive Energy Systems, an energy solutions provider based in Vancouver, British Columbia, that is one of several companies pioneering the use of pyrolysis, a process in which biomass is burned at a high temperature in the absence of oxygen. The process yields both a charcoal by-product that can be used as a fertilizer, and bio-oil, which is a mix of oxygenated hydrocarbons that can be used to generate heat or electricity.

Read More

Sunday, May 13, 2007

About The Cayman Institute

Purpose

The Cayman Institute is an apolitical, privately funded, non profit organization established to consider the long term effects and implications of diverse technological, sociological, economical and cultural issues to the Cayman Islands. Its members work on a voluntary basis and offer strategic plans for consideration to guide the delivery of nearer term projects, so as not to jeopardize the future of the islands' infrastructure, financial and human resources.

Participation

It is composed of group of specialists with a wide range of knowledge in a cross section of disciplines including: Cayman Culture; Health; Primary & Secondary Education; Economics & Finance; The Environment; Technology & Communications; Construction Trades; Law Enforcement: Entrepreneurism and General Business.