Potential for St.Maarten to lower energy costs

Cost savings for GEBE electricity users can be significant. The fact that St.Maarten is literally swimming in seawater has a solution in store for it with the potential for success on a scale ambitious enough to nearly completely alter the economy of the island.

Just like in the Middle East, it is all about fuel. But no drilling in the St.Maarten! No way, José! Pumping? Yes! Pumping seawater. This is no joke or dilly-dally. Oh, no! As the emperor of France once said, “Not tonight, Josephine.” This is serious business.

What is this mystery solution? Researchers at universities in the USA, Australia, the Middle East, and China have proven beyond any reasonable doubt that seawater can be turned into hydrogen fuel by splitting the oxygen from hydrogen in water. Remember the two elements of water H2 and O? Let’s not go into the chemical biddly-boo of how it is done. The curious and pathological snoopy noses can look it up and they will become convinced advocates for replacing fossil fuel by hydrogen fuel.

What is so special about using hydrogen? No carbon footprint and the exhaust is colorless, odorless, non-toxic, and surprisingly it is simply water. Hydrogen has the highest energy content of any common fuel measured by weight.

Who needs it? Almost any engine that is driven by fossil fuel (gasoline, diesel, jetfuel, etc.) can be powered with hydrogen. The automotive and aviation industries are already actively moving to make changes. In the future yachts, cruise and container ships may eventually use hydrogen fuel. And if St.Maarten produced its own hydrogen, money can be made.

Hydrogen can also be used to generate electricity at the GEBE power plant. No more fuel imports but rather using the own seawater hydrogen energy. It doesn’t even need a large refinery at one central location. A hydrogen generator unit can be small enough to fit any size, even for a yacht. Theoretically, beach resorts could have their own.

Capital investment in this new energy sector will have a sustainable generous return of investment. It could be an export product for a Caribbean island that, thus far, had little to nothing to export and had to deal with an import/export deficit. It can contribute to economic diversification.

Considering that 70 per cent of the Earth’s surface is water, one would tend to say that supply will be available for another million years. Most important of all, it will have a positive impact on the environment. Green and carbon-free.

With the academic findings currently available it would not be necessary to do another heavy-duty study whether it can be realized. It may need a study of how the opportunity can be implemented on the island.

The whole world is looking for an eco-friendly solution. This one will cut every excuse ever used for failing. And all marketeers agree that money is made by selling solutions. This solution should make any insightful politician or entrepreneur jump through hoops. It needs neither courage nor conviction to fall in love with it.

Maybe the Government could consider creating a research institute or laboratory for hydrogen fuel development. Innovative products always need improvement or adjustments. The winner is usually the one who has foresight and is the fastest and smartest. Possibly even a leadership position. Just imagine the world can be fueled by energy from paradise. Filling it up with ‘Paradise Grade One Plus’ sounds even better than filling it up with ‘Zero Emission Something’.

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