The Renewable Energy Systems Laboratory (RESL), a joint initiative between the T&T Association of Energy Engineers (TTAEE) and The University of the West Indies (UWI), has officially begun operations.<\/p>\n
Funded by the Digicel Foundation and energy company Shell, the laboratory was established as a renewable energy training centre aimed at bridging the gap between research and practical application in T&T\u2019s agricultural sector.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Participants in the Renewable Energy Systems Laboratory project gather at the University Field Station after completing a solar installation aimed at supporting agricultural research and farmer training.<\/p>\n
Thomas Jackson, TTAEE\u2019s business development director, said the project represents exactly what both organisations envisioned when they partnered to create the facility.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt moves beyond theory and places students and farmers in real-world environments, generating data and solutions that are directly relevant to T&T,\u201d Jackson told Express Business.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor too long, farmers have had to rely on guidance developed for completely different climates. What these students have done is begin building knowledge specific to our conditions, and that is a critical step in making renewable energy work for our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jackson described the RESL as more than a research initiative, noting that UWI students designed and installed a functioning solar system, improved conditions at the university\u2019s field station and shared their knowledge directly with farmers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat is the kind of practical, meaningful impact we want to see,\u201d he said. \u201cIt also highlights the strength of our local talent. When given the right platform, our students are not only learning, they are solving real problems and contributing to the country\u2019s energy transition in a tangible way.\u201d<\/p>\n
He said the project marks the first major initiative undertaken since the laboratory\u2019s establishment and is intended to serve as a foundation for broader renewable energy adoption across rural T&T.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe experience, data and relationships built through projects like this will help scale renewable energy solutions across rural communities,\u201d Jackson said. \u201cThere is exceptional talent in T&T, and it is about bringing the right people together to move the country forward.\u201d<\/p>\n
The initiative centres on a comparative study of bifacial and monofacial solar panels under Caribbean conditions. Conducted through UWI\u2019s Community Service-Learning programme and supported by funding from the Digicel Shell Foundation, the project aims to generate region-specific data that can be used in farmer training programmes hosted at the laboratory.<\/p>\n
According to Jackson, one of the project\u2019s primary goals is to address the shortage of Caribbean-specific information on renewable energy systems.<\/p>\n
\u201cFarmers in T&T often rely on information from North America, where environmental conditions differ significantly,\u201d he said. \u201cThis project allows us to collect real-world performance data under local conditions so future recommendations are practical, relevant and optimised for T&T.\u201d<\/p>\n
The solar installation is already delivering benefits at the University Field Station.<\/p>\n
Jackson said solar power now provides lighting for a potting shed that previously had no electricity, improving safety and allowing staff to work later in a properly lit environment. The system was also designed to accommodate future expansion for additional research and agricultural development projects.<\/p>\n
The initiative extends beyond the university campus. Following the installation, students worked directly with farmers, providing guidance on system installation, maintenance and safety practices.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis transfer of knowledge ensures the impact goes beyond a single site and supports wider adoption of renewable energy solutions throughout the agricultural sector,\u201d Jackson said.<\/p>\n
Agronomy technician in UWI\u2019s Department of Food Production and local farmer Rayard Khan praised the students for their work.<\/p>\n
\u201cYour commitment, enthusiasm and work ethic have been nothing short of inspiring,\u201d Khan said.<\/p>\n
\u201cBecause of you, I can stand in the potting shed, flick a switch and the space comes alive. No longer do I have to use my car headlights while working late.\u201d<\/p>\n
Khan said many farmers still operate without reliable access to electricity.<\/p>\n
\u201cAs engineers, imagine trying to manage water efficiently without powered systems, preserve harvests without cold storage, or process produce without basic machinery,\u201d he said. \u201cThis is not a distant problem; it is a daily reality. It limits not just productivity, but possibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cYour introduction of solar energy into agriculture is not just a technological upgrade; it is a lifeline.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"The Renewable Energy Systems Laboratory (RESL), a joint initiative between the T&T Association of Energy Engineers (TTAEE) and…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":483482,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[22],"tags":[72,246,61,60,342,82],"class_list":["post-483481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-environment","tag-business","tag-environment","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-local","tag-science"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483481","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=483481"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/483481\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/483482"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=483481"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=483481"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=483481"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}