The island nation of Barbados aims to achieve 100% renewable energy by 2030 while also improving energy security, affordability and resilience. Power outages from severe weather threaten hospitals, schools and other critical facilities, highlighting the need for reliable energy options such as microgrids and battery storage systems. Microgrids are self-contained electrical grids, usually powered by renewable energy, that can provide backup electricity during emergencies.
In March 2025, students in the Nicholas School of the Environment’s Master of Environmental Management (MEM) program — including Fiona Bleu, Leah Li, Lauren Ng, Noah Price and Sydney Williams — investigated the feasibility of microgrid installation in Barbados for their master’s project. In collaboration with the Rocky Mountain Institute and supported with travel funding from Duke’s Global Student Research Fund, the students visited multiple sites to assess land availability, suitability for solar panels, existing electrical infrastructure, energy demand indicators and factors related to resilience, such as flood risk and proximity to coasts. Through conversations with facility managers and representatives from key government ministries, the team gathered data on energy use, regulatory processes, infrastructure priorities and stakeholder preferences. The students narrowed potential installation sites down to 30 priority areas encompassing hospitals, schools, hurricane shelters and police and fire stations that are vital to high-risk and underserved communities. Their research resulted in an adaptable framework to advance microgrid projects in Barbados and the wider Caribbean.
Photo: The student research team included, from left, Lauren Ng, Sydney Williams, Fiona Bleu, Leah Li and Noah Price (not pictured), all of whom graduated from the Nicholas School’s MEM program in May 2025.