News Americas, New York, NY, December 10, 2024: The Caribbean is demonstrating its ingenuity on the global stage by creating an innovative technology that has the potential to benefit the world. Barbados-based start-up Rum and Sargassum Inc., in partnership with the University of the West Indies, (UWI) Cave Hill Campus, has unveiled the world’s first vehicle powered by bio-compressed natural gas, (CNG), which derived from sargassum and rum distillation waste water.
This innovative fuel turns a regional challenge – the sargassum seaweed flooding the Caribbean coast – into a valuable resource, showing how small island nations can lead in solving global problems. As part of its broader goal of achieving 100% renewable energy and carbon neutrality by 2030, Barbados is setting an example in environmental sustainability and renewable energy development.
The bio-CNG project is led by Dr. Legena Henry and her team at the UWI Cave Hill Renewable Energy Development Laboratory. Speaking at the presentation of the vehicle, Dr. Henry described innovation as a product of determination and creative problem solving. “This is not just for the Caribbean. It is a technology that can be exported to other parts of the world, including regions such as West Africa, South America and Florida, which also face sargassum problems,” she said.
The bio-CNG vehicle, emblazoned with the slogan “Running on Sargassum”, is more than a symbol of progress; it is a step towards a sustainable future. The initiative also integrates agriculture and energy through a biogas station at the Guinea Estate in Barbados, where “digestion feeds the land and the gas fuels the cars,” according to Dr. Henry.
Professor Clive Landis, Principal and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of UWI Cave Hill, highlighted the far-reaching impact of the project. “This achievement demonstrates how UWI translates research excellence into societal value. It is ready for scale-up and global investment, marking a milestone in technology transfer,” he said.
Barbados’ Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, celebrated the innovation as a key moment in the country’s renewable energy journey. “This is not just a local solution; it has the potential to redefine how the world sees sargassum,” she said, urging the Caribbean to embrace its role as a leader in sustainable technology.
The initiative, supported by partners such as the Caribbean Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) and the Inter-American Development Bank, underscores the region’s capacity to innovate and lead. As Dr. rightly concluded. Henry, “These small islands have created technology that can benefit the rest of the world. This is a huge win for the Caribbean and for global sustainability.”
