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Breaking the Caribbean Power Generation

Diesel Fuel Dependency

Renique J. Murray and Graham S. King

ABSTRACT INTRODUCTION

It is well known that the Caribbean region is highly Fossil fuels have fed global power generation for several
dependent on diesel and other crude oil derived fuels as years. The countries of the Caribbean region, like many
its main energy source. However, the increasing market other regions, have become significantly dependent on
price and environmental impact of traditional diesel diesel and other fossil fuels for power generation and other
fuels in power generation, has caused them to become energy uses. In 2010, it was recorded that approximately
increasingly unattractive and unsustainable. 95% of the energy generated in the Caribbean is derived
from fossil fuels, with diesel and fuel oil being two of
An alternative power generation chain for the region has the more prominent sources (The Energy Information
been proposed, which seeks to utilize a novel fuel blend Agency, 2013). This is a high-cost source and many of
comprising of methanol and biofuels. Preliminary research these countries are finding it difficult to accommodate the
has verified the concept, indicating that the blend can be increasing cost of diesel. In addition to this, a number
used in diesel engines with better engine performance. of other factors are making it increasingly necessary to
In addition, the research findings indicate that a power pursue and develop cleaner and more sustainable energy
generation chain for the blend is viable and can potentially alternatives (Hertzmark, 2006).
lead to savings for the regional countries.
A number of potential alternative fuel sources have been
The current effort seeks to validate a real world proposed for the region; biofuels being one alternative.
implementation of the proposed power generation chain, Recent studies have indicated that there is a considerable
via the use of a pilot plant case study. This work is a unique potential for biofuels in the region (The Energy and
industry-academia collaborative project. The project Security Group, 2006). Natural gas also presents another
partners include: The Caribbean Electric Utility Service key alternative, since there are significant reserves located
Corporation, TRACMAC Engineering Ltd./CATERPILLAR, in the region, mainly in Trinidad and Tobago (Kromah et
Methanex and the University of the West Indies. Under al., 2003), and because it is a cleaner and less costly
the project, a small power generation facility will be fuel than diesel. Transportation of natural gas between the
setup, which utilizes a diesel engine generator set as the island states poses a challenge and methanol has been
primary power generation machinery and the proposed proposed as one means of addressing this issue (Olah et
fuel as the primary fuel source. Through the use of the al., 2006). However, there are some key issues that need
pilot plant, the project seeks to investigate and determine to be addressed, regarding the use of both fuel types
key operational parameters, maintenance requirements, in standard diesel engines (Seko and Kuroda, 1998),
plant and process reliability and other key factors in the (Mitchell et al., 1991), (Ramadhas et al., 2004), (Haldar
implementation of the power generation chain. et al., 2008).

In light of this, a novel fuel blend has been developed that
Keywords: methanol; biofuel; alternative energy; power can potentially serve as a feasible regional alternative.
generation; Caribbean; pilot study The fuel blend is comprised of methanol, biodiesel and
vegetable oil. Due to its constitution, the blend has the
potential to circumvent the issues associated with both
methanol and biofuels in diesel engines, while leveraging
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