Solar Power Potential in Belize, Central America

I just returned from a week-long trip to Belize, Central America. Most of my time was spent on Caye Caulker, a very small island off the north east shore of Belize City, home to 30% of Belize's 300,000 residents. When I asked the locals, they estimated Caye Caulker to have a population of between one and two thousand. A small portion of the island has reliable electricity and utilities and not surprisingly, supports the tourism industry through guest houses, resorts, laundromats, dive shops, restaurants and bars. The other side of the island has been promised electricity and utilities for a couple of years but has yet to see any progress in the development of infrastructure.

The local population is highly dependent on the tourism industry to provide jobs and income and help elevate the profile of the newly independent nation of Belize (as of 1981, even though they still are considered part of the British Commonwealth).

The major roadblock to developing the majority of Caye Caulker is a lack of reliable electricity. Since I'm relatively new to the solar world, this was my first major eye-opening experience with the power of solar energy. Reliable photovoltaic power could alleviate development roadblocks, expand the booming tourism industry in Caye Caulker and improve the lives of the thousands of locals. The opportunity is so clear, powerful and simple.

While I was in Belize City, I noticed a small spray painted sign (I wish I would have gotten a picture of it) that read "solar panels and power inverters." In a nation of sun, I would have expected to get a stronger showing for solar energy.

If anyone is looking to make a hospitality investment (there are plenty of resorts and lots for sale on Caye Caulker) or would like to invest in the infrastructure of Caye Caulker or any of the other Belizean islands, I'd be happy to help get the right products and system designed. It's a perfect opportunity. The government of Belize provides tax shelter to tourism-related businesses (and from what it sounds like, that means you're operating nearly tax-free).

It was pretty awesome to see how the power of the sun could provide more people access to the world's second largest, highly bio-diverse coral reefs.

Here are a few pictures from my trip. They were taken on a Nikon D70 with a 70-300 telephoto lens by a very amateur photographer (me!).

Caye Caulker airstrip

Typical Caye Caulker home

Local Caye Caulker man

Island tricycle

Howler monkey at Lamanai (submerged crocodile) Mayan temple

I have plenty more pictures, let me know if you're interested in seeing more.

Cheers,

Dan

Tags: belize, energy, hospitality, inverters, island, panels, power, solar, tourism

Next Post >

Comment

You need to be a member of Solar Power Blog Community, Solar Panel Questions | PVPower.com to add comments!

Join Solar Power Blog Community, Solar Panel Questions | PVPower.com

Comment by Sara Andrews on January 16, 2012 at 9:40am: Hey Dan! First of all, let me say thank you for visiting this beautiful country. Great write up on your insights about Belize, we linked your article on our website www.prosolarltd.com. Belize has such incredible potential for solar, wind and hydro! Very few people in Belize realize how "do-able" solar is. A few resorts are beginning to taking advantage of it and the concept is beginning to catch on - thankfully. I would like to mention that we have a business located in Belmopan called "Pro Solar Engineering". We have done various installations at the Cayes and more rural locations and fully agree with you about the opportunity being "so clear, powerful and simple." As you mentioned we need to do our part in protecting this Jewel of Ours. Pro Solar is here to help our citizens do just that. If you are ever down here again, we would love to get in contact with you. Until then, lets continue to partner together and protect our home!

Comment by diane simko on October 4, 2011 at 7:46pm: Hello, Dan. I was reading your blog regarding your trip to Belize, and wondered if you may be able to help me out with a research project we are doing at UTMartin? We are currently beginning a feasability study for alternative energy at Gales Point in Belize, and the site willl be the Manatee Lodge if we can get energy there. We have looked into a couple of local companies (power up Belize and Belize solar) and are searching for grants at this time as well. I also found an international workshop and training program that will be held in Costa Rica soon. If you have information on what type of solar would be easier to sustain in that area, could you please let me know. Any information to aid in our research and implementation of this project would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so much. Diane

Comment by Dan Kuthy on March 22, 2010 at 4:02pm: Hey Jason,

Absolutely. What's your experience with renewable energy? Are you actively doing development?

Let's talk more. Feel free to shoot me an email at dan@pvpower.com.

Thanks,
Dan

Comment by jason durran on March 17, 2010 at 4:34pm: what are you thinking about as reference to power, I am always interested in power generation whether it be Solar or Windpower. It might be an interesting opportunity to go and get things going as far as power in belize.

RSS

Welcome to
Solar Power Blog Community, Solar Panel Questions | PVPower.com

Sign Up
or Sign In