Analysis of the employment of geothermal resources internationally with emphasis on the island of St. Lucia

Abstract

Saint Lucia is a volcanic island located in the Eastern Caribbean. Its' natural beauty has made it an increasingly popular tourist destination. This, along with rapid development, has contributed to a growing demand for energy. The local utility LUCELEC has an exclusive license to generate and distribute electricity and currently supplies about 98% of the population. Electricity generation is characterized by total dependence on diesel-powered generators. At present, over 90 percent of energy used in the Caribbean is fueled by oil. There are wind energy turbines, solar panels, hydroelectric plants and geothermal plants that generate electricity, but none anywhere near the region’s potential. There are no grid connected solar energy sources, while wind, geothermal and hydro sources are grid connected in isolated cases.