Dartmouth Events

Tuesday, July 28
12:15 - 1:15 p.m.
Kaitlyn Bunker, Rocky Mountain Institute
"Clean Energy Transition: What We've Learned from Partnering with Caribbean Islands to Develop Inclusive Approaches that Accelerate Progress"
 
About the Talk: Caribbean islands are among the first to be impacted by our global climate crisis, although their direct contribution to GHG emissions is minimal. At the same time, islands have chosen to be leaders in clean energy transition, recognizing that moving from their current centralized fossil-fueled electricity systems to distributed clean energy options brings a range of benefits, from reducing emissions to lowering electricity costs, increasing system resilience, and using local resource options. The Rocky Mountain Institute Islands Energy Program partners with Caribbean islands to define optimal pathways and accelerate their clean energy transitions. This presentation and discussion will focus on the approach developed by the RMI team to best support islands in their efforts through inclusive energy planning processes and a whole-systems approach. While there are unique aspects of small island electricity systems that create both challenges and opportunities, the presentation will also highlight aspects of islands' experiences that are relevant to larger electricity systems in other regions.

About the Speaker: Kaitlyn Bunker, Ph.D., P.E. leads the Islands Energy Program at Rocky Mountain Institute, including leading energy modeling and technical analysis to complete integrated resource plans in partnership with Caribbean island utilities, governments, and regulators. These plans take a whole-systems view of various options for the future of the electricity sector on each island, and lead to specific investment plans for clean energy solutions. She has worked closely with stakeholders in Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize, the British Virgin Islands, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and Bermuda. Kaitlyn also leads modeling efforts related to small island microgrid opportunities. She joined RMI after completing a Ph.D. in electrical engineering from Michigan Technological University in Houghton, MI.