Grenada Installs its First Natural Refrigerant AC System

Friday July 6th, 2018: Grenada, being one of the early ratifiers of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on substances that deplete the ozone layer, is moving steadfastly to phase down the use of fluorinated, high global warming potential gases in the refrigeration and air-conditioning sector.

Under the project “Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change”, executed by the National Ozone Unit (NOU), thirty (30) air-conditioning units have been provided by the German government through GIZ, to promote the use of nattural refrigerants and energy efficiency in the refrigeration and air conditioning sector.  Ultimately the project would reduce Co2 emissions related to energy consumption thereby assisting the country in meeting its Co2 reduction commitments . Public and private sector entities have been selected to participate in the project.

The Grenada Customs and Excise Division is the first beneficiary of these AC units.  On Friday July 6th, 2018, a low global warming potential (GWP) 18,000 BTU, R-290 mini-split air condition unit was installed at the office of the Deputy Comptroller of Customs, to replace the high GWP, HFC-410A, that was previously installed.  From early indications, the energy performance of the unit is very impressive.  Energy and temperature monitors have also been installed on the equipment to monitor performance for the next four weeks.

The program of installation of the new units in the participating institutions will continue during the upcoming weeks.  The before and after data will be collected and analyzed.  This information
would then be used to drive a robust public awareness campaign to promote the use of air-condition units using natural refrigerants – R-290.

On hand to receive the new unit and to express the gratitude of the Customs Department was Deputy Comptroller of Customs, with responsibility for Airport, Accounts and Building Maintenance,  Mr. Shane Derby.

 

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Funding for Two (2) Projects approved for Grenada

Montreal, Canada, Friday June 22nd, 2018:  At the recently concluded 81st Meeting of the Executive Committee of the Multi-lateral Fund (June 18-22) for the Implementation of the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer, two (2) projects were approved for Grenada.  The two projects submitted for funding approval were, the extension of the Institutional Strengtheneing Project – ISP VII and Enabling activities for early implemtation of the Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol.

Grenada’s Delegation at the 81st ExCom Meeting

 

Funding under the ISP is to be used for coordinating all of the implementation activities of the  Montreal Protocol and for managing the operations of the National Ozone Unit (NOU). An amount of US 85,000 was approved for the next two years (2018-2020).

The second project  that was approved is the project to support of Enabling Activities for early implementation of HFC phase down. The amount approved for Grenada is US 50, 000.

Grenada is currently a member of the ExCom for 2018 and was represented at the meeting by National Ozone Officer, Mr. Leslie Smith.

 

Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Teachers to receive training in Germany

via Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Teachers to receive training in Germany

Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Teachers to receive training in Germany

St. George’s Grenada, June 19th 2018: Refrigeration and air conditioning teachers at two secondary schools in Grenada are the latest to benefit from  the “Cool Training” in Natural refrigerants to  be held in Germany from June 25th to July 6th, 2018.

The “Cool Training” initiative is part of the National Ozone Unit’s (NOU) ongoing policy to develop the national capacity and opportunities for Refrigeration and Air-condition (RAC) technicians in gaining international experience in the area of Natural Refrigerant Technology. Already, there has been some adoption of this technology in Grenada, primarily in the domestic refrigeration, small commercial refrigeration and mini-split air conditioning systems. Quite recently the NOU launched a demonstration project with its primary aim to promote the use of natural refrigerant in the air-conditioning sector.

The two teachers selected by the National Ozone Unit are, Mr. Shanel Franklyn of Boca Secondary School and Mr. Heston Mann of St. Mark’s Secondary School.  These are the only two secondary schools on the island that offers refrigeration and ari-conditioning as part of its curriculum.

The two-week training, which is 70% practical and 30% theory, will provide the teachers with comprehensive knowledge and training on the installation, operation and maintenance of cooling technology using natural refrigerants and will take into account all of the safety considerations required. The training also involves field trips to innovative enterprises in Germany such as, RAC components manufacturers and refrigeration plants that use natural refrigerants. The two teachers will depart Grenada on Saturday 23rd June 2018 for Germany.

The NOU has already provided tools and equipment to these schools to aid in the teaching of Good Refrigeration Practices under its HCFC Phase out Management Plan (HPMP). The NOU is also providing assistance to upgrade the RAC curriculum up to level two certification for the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ).  Included in the CVQ  Certification will also be training in natural refrigerant technology.  This training of the teachers will complement the process in developing their capacity to transfer quality information to the students.

Funding for the teachers participation at the training comes from the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB) through the German-Grenadian project component of the project “Cool Contribution fighting Climate Change (C4)”. This project is executed by the National Ozone Unit (NOU) in the Energy Division of the Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Public Utilites, Energy, Transportation and Implementation, in conjunction with GIZ, to promote ozone-and climate friendly technologies in Grenada.

AC Demo Project underway….. monitoring equipment installed

St. George’s, Grenada. Friday June 9th, 2018. The AC demonstration project that was launched on Thursday May 24th, 2018 as part of the Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change (C4) project that is been executed by the National ozone Unit (NOU) got underway on Tuesday June 5th with the installation of energy and temperature monitoring equipment to collect baseline data.

The first installation of the monitoring devices were done at the New Life Organisation (NEWLO) in Palmiste, St. John on Tuesday 5th.  Other installations have been done at the St. Mark’s Secondary School and the St. St. Andrew’s Anglican Secondary School.  During the upcoming week the installation of the monitoring equipment will be completed at the remaining locations that are participating in the project. Data will be collected for a period of four (4) weeks.

The objective of the project is to promote energy efficient cooling systems and the use of natural refrigerant technologies.

Debriefing Session held with Customs Officers

Thursday June 8th, 2018:  Following the recently concluded Thematic Meeting for National Ozone Officers of the English Speaking Caribbean and Haiti, the National Ozone Officer of Grenada, Mr. Leslie Smith convened a “de-briefing” meeting with the Customs Officers ( Mr. Rene Parkes and Mrs JudyAnn James) who participated in the recently held meeting in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

The objective of the meeting was to get a summary report from the officers and to identify recommendations that can be implemented for improving the co-operation between the NOU and customs, as well as discussing measures of enhancing the roles of customs officers in monitoring the trade of ozone depleting substances (ODS).

Although the operations of Customs have been very successful in Grenada with regards to their tasks relative to Grenada’s obligations under the Montreal Protocol, several suggestions and recommendations have been identified for consideration to enhance their roles.

With the implementation of these recommendations, the Customs and Excise division will continue to  be among the leading stakeholders in the global effort tot rid the planet of ODS.

Newly Developed Training Programme for NOUs Pilotted in the Caribbean

Source: http://web.unep.org/ozonaction/news/newly-developed-training-programme-national-ozone-officers-caribbean-region

KINGSTOWN, 30 May 2018—  The UN Environment’s OzonAction Branch in cooperation with the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has organized the newly developed training programme for National Ozone Officers in the Caribbean region (Kingstown, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, 28-29 May 2018).

The main objective of this training programme is to provide National Ozone Unit (NOU) staff with essential information about the Montreal Protocol, a country’s obligations under the Montreal Protocol, and the main activities to be carried out by NOUs at the national level.  The training also provides newly appointed NOU staff with fundamental knowledge and information tools that will enable them to support their government in meeting its commitments as agreed by all Parties under the Montreal Protocol.

The curriculum and training materials included in this newly developed training programme focuses on information that will support new NOOs in carrying out their daily work in an effective manner. This includes an understanding of national commitments under the Montreal Protocol, the annual cycle of events, annual and intermittent reporting requirements to the Ozone and Multilateral Fund (MLF) Secretariats as well as MLF project cycles. It also addresses key activities at the national level, such as the effective implementation of MLF projects, interacting with ODS (Ozone Depleting Substances) users and other stakeholders.

The new training programme comprises a series of standardized training tools, including concise background documents, presentation slides (PowerPoints), handouts, checklists for NOOs, quizzes, crosswords, innovative activity exercises, evaluation documents, guides for additional work by NOOs before and after training sessions, lists of useful additional resources  etc.

The participants included NOU officers and assistants from the Caribbean region (Belize, Dominica, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines). The representative of Grenada also participated in the work of the NOU training as a resource person.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Mikheil Tushishvili, Programme Officer, OzonAction
UN Environment
Tel: +33 1 44 37 14 71
Email: mikheil.tushishvili@un.org

Marco A. Pinzon, Montreal Protocol Coordinator (Caribbean)
OzonAction
UN Environment, Office of Latin America and the Caribbean
Tel: +507 305 3154
Email: marco.pinzon@unep.org

Donnalyn Charles, HPMP Programme Officer, OzonAction
UN Environment, Office for Latin America and the Caribbean
Tel: +507 305 3163
Email: donnalyn.charles@unep.org

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Local Customs Officers participates in Ozone Officers Meeting

Rene Parkes (left), Judyann James, (right)

St. George’s, Grenada, Monday June 4th, 2018: Two officers of the Grenada Customs and Excise Division participated in the recently concluded Thematic Network Meeting for National Ozone Officers of the

English Speaking Caribbean and Haiti, held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, from May 28th to June 1st, 2018.

The last two days of the meeting which was attended by customs officers from the region, focused primarily on the roles of customs officers in monitoring and preventing illegal trade in ozone depleting substances (ODS). During those two days, a number of key areas where customs officers are expected to assist National Ozone Units (NOUs) were examined.  Among the key topics discussed were:

• The Role of Customs Officers – Control measures and reporting obligations under the Montreal Protocol
• Development of Import/Export Licensing and Quota systems for ODS and HFCs under the Montreal Protocol
• ASYCUDA and E-Licensing Systems for Border Control of ODS
• Disaggregation of Customs Harmonised System (HS) Codes for HFCs
• Practical Exercises on the use of Refrigerant Identifiers

Grenada’s was represented at the meeting by Mr. Rene Parkes, Systems Administrator and Senior Customs Officer with responsibility for training, Mrs. Judy-Ann James.

Mr. Parkes, who is one of the experienced trainers used by the National Ozone Unit to train customs officers, was one of the experts used at the meeting and presented on the following agenda items:

• Overview of e-Licensing Systems
  • purpose
  • how o establish
  • keyplayer/clienmts
  • illegal trade prevention
• ASYCUDA and E-Licensing Systems and Border Control for ODS and Refrigerants
  • Grenada’s E-Licensing and Quota Systems

All countries of the Caribbean have already established a licensing system to control trade in ODS, however, Grenada was the first to establish an electronic licensing system imports of ozone depleting substances (refrigerants).

Also attending the meeting from Grenada was, Mr. Curllan Bhola, GIZs technical consultant for the Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change (C4) project  and National Ozone Officer, Mr. Leslie Smith.

Grenada: The Thirty-seventh (37th) Country to ratify the Kigali Ammendment to the Montreal Protocol.

St. George’s, Grenada, Thursday May 31st, 2018. On Tuesday May 29th, 2018, Grenada became the 37th country among the 197 Parties to the Montreal to ratify the historic Kigali Amendment to the Montreal Protocol on sunbstances that deplete the ozone layer.

The Ozone Secretariat, based in Nairobi, Kenya, has confirmed receipt of notification from the United Nations Headquarters in New York on the deposition of the instruments of ratification from Grenada.  The Ozone Secretariat has already extended congratulations to the Government of Grenada on this milestone achievement.

In addition to been the 37th Party to ratify the Kigali Amendment, Grenada is the third country in the Caribbean to achieve early ratification, behind Trinidad and Tobago whose was the first and Barbados, the second.

For more information on the Kigali Amendment, please visit: http://conf.montreal-protocol.org/meeting/oewg/oewg-39/presession/briefingnotes/ratification_kigali.pdf

 

Grenada Launches Natural Refrigerants Demonstration Project: The first of its kind in the Caribbean

St. George’s, Grenada, Thursday May 24th, 2018: The Government of Grenada is the receipient of thirty (30) mini splits air-conditioning units from the Government of Germany, through the implementing agency GIZ, to be used for a demonstration project to promote the use of natural refrigerants in Grenada.

This initiative is part of the Cool Contributions fighting Climate Change (C4) Project that is executed by the National Ozone Unit in the Energy Division of Ministry of Infrastructure Development, Public Utilities, Energy, Transpot and Implementation. This demonstration project, which is the first of its kind in the Caribbean, seeks also to promote energy efficiency in the cooling sector and to reduce direct and indirect emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG). The project will collect, compare and analyze data between, already installed units using synthetic refrigerants and the new systems using natural refrigerants, R-290. The information gathered from the project would be used to drive a robust public awareness and educational campaign to promote the use of natural refrigerant technology.

The NOU has already engaged entities in the private and public sector to participate in the demonstration project.  The air conditions received (20, 18,000 BTU/h and 10, 12,000 BTU/h) operates with the natural refrigerant R-290 (propane). Natural refrigerants are one of the recommended alternatives to replace the high global warming refrigerants and have the following advantages:

• Greater energy efficiency
• very good thermodynamic properties
• no negative impact on the environment
  • zero ozone depleting potential (ODP)
  • very negligible global warming potential (GWP,2)
• Requires less refrigerant charge (40%)
• Quieter operation (less noise)
• lower operating pressures (extends the life of the compressor)

The AC units were received by the Honorable, Gregory Bowen, Minister under whose portfolio the National Ozone Unit falls.  During the brief hand over ceremony, Minister Bowen expressed the government’s gratitude to the Government of Germany and GIZ and reiterated that the use of these energy efficient AC units can reduce the demand for electricity by 50% and make it more afffordable for ordinary citizens. He further lamented, that energy efficiency and environmental preservation should be a priority in the context of reducing green house gas emissions, especially when the global demand for comfort cooling is expected to triple by the year 2050.

Also attending the ceremony was Permanent Secretary, Patricia Clarke, Head of GIZ, Grenada, Dieter Rottenburer and National Ozone  Offcier, Leslie Smith and the public and private sector participant of the project.