A survey conducted by the Global Climate Change Alliance+ initiative of the UN Development Programme (UNDP) in collaboration with the Ministry of Planning and Development revealed that while people are willing to adopt energy-efficient, energy-conservative and renewable products and practices, there isn’t enough encouragement through regulations, and affordability for them to go green.

The survey, funded by the European Union to the tune of 2.4 million euros, covered 500 homes across a wide cross-section of respondents identified by age, household income and location.

Dr Curtis Boodoo, assistant professor, utilities systems engineering unit, at the University of TT, in presenting the findings at the Hyatt Regency in Port of Spain, Wednesday, said that eight in ten people are reported to be interested in items such as solar PV systems. Seven in ten people knew a great deal or a fair amount about solar energy.

The survey revealed that 87 per cent were aware of solar PV systems, 86 per cent were aware of solar-powered outdoor lights, 54 per cent were aware of solar-powered heaters and 53 per cent knew about solar-powered cellphone chargers.

However of those aware of solar-powered products only two in ten said they use these products in their homes. Only two per cent use solar-powered PV systems, 18 per cent use solar-powered outdoor lights, one per cent use solar-powered water heaters and seven per cent use solar-powered cellphone chargers.

To answer the question why, Boodoo said the perception of solar energy is that there are many gaps that would hinder the average person from using it.

[caption id="attachment_1019026" align="alignnone" width="1024"] Solar-panel installation began at the Piarco solar park in February. The installation saw high -oltage cable being laid and photovoltaic panels erected. -[/caption]

“We found that the perception is that solar is expensive,” he said. “We really do have to focus our campaign or any sort of media campaign that is related to solar on addressing the perception that is super-dependent on the weather. It is, but you can get solar energy even when it is raining.”

He said the perception that solar power is very expensive in the first instance was correct. During a project which saw six institutions, some of which did not have any electricity at all, install solar-powered grids, the UNDP found that batteries to store energy from solar panels amounted to about 40 per cent of the costs.

“So, if we can allow systems without batteries, then the cost of solar will drop,” he said. “But the only way to do that is to allow interconnection.”

He added that there is also a need to address the perception that there are few locally-trained people in solar energy. He said there must be a focus on forwarding information on people trained in solar repairs and maintenance.

“National universities and private institutions are offering training courses,” he said.

Boodoo said for the nation to move forward there must be a focus on education, information sharing and public en