Welcome to Rum and Sargassum
Rum & Sargassum
Renewable Energy Development Lab
University of the West Indies
Cave Hill, Barbados
Our Research
After weeks of thinking about sugar cane, and driving through cane fields, when I saw this Brooks 2018 map of one year of Sargassum biomass aggregate, I thought of one thing: The triangular…
Our Facilities
Renewable Energy Development Lab
University of the West Indies
Cave Hill, Barbados
Our Location
The University of the West Indies
Cave Hill, Barbados
Tel: (246) 417-4000
Fax: (246) 425-1327
Bio-fuel Solution
Our team brainstormed and tested a bio-fuel solution to the transportation and energy needs of Barbados.
Data shows that the declining Barbadian sugar cane industry does not provide enough feedstock for energy production, as in the case of Brazil, so we deliberated. Inspired by a beachfront scene of cranes removing heaps of sargassum seaweed, we saw a potential solution.
As we delve in, this novel but stable regional resource, leaving the coast of West Africa and landing on our shores, poetically reminds us of the treacherous “Middle Passage” journey taken by many of our ancestors. It also gives us new hope for cheaper energy security, delivering more bio-mass than our islands will ever produce otherwise, but also wreaking havoc in our primarily tourism-based economies.
From our experimental results, we propose to harvest the sargassum before it beaches and destroys tourism, using it alongside rum distillery waste to generate biomethane for transport and the national grid.
Team Lead – Dr. Legena Henry, PhD
Our Research
We used published numbers from Barbados and Brazil to compare the sugar cane markets in the two territories. We realized from the numbers that sugar cane is not enough by itself to supply all the transportation and energy needs of Barbados. We needed another feedstock.
Brittany, inspired by a beachfront scene she saw on her way to the lab, where cranes were removing heaps of seaweed, came to the lab breathless and wild-eyed and suggested investigating Sargassum sea weed.
History
Some scientists and engineers born and raised in the Caribbean set out last summer to brainstorm a bio-fuel solution to the transportation needs of Barbados.
The Caribbean
Caribbean countries are unique in that most of their populations comprise descendants of West Africans brought to the hemisphere as captured slaves.
The European triangular
In the darkest parts of our Caribbean history, the European triangular trade did 3 things:
Research Team
Lead: Dr Legena Henry, PhD
Students: Joshua Austin, Aria Goodridge, Kristen Lynch, Brittney McKenzie , Karyl Pivott,
Collaborators: Dr. Nikolai Holder PhD, Mrs Felicia Cox, Dr. Renique Murray, PhD
Dr. Legena Henry PhD
Team Lead
Ms. Shamika Spencer​
Assistant to Dr Henry
Mr. Joshua Austin
Student/Research Intern
Ms. Aria Goodridge
Student/Research Intern
Ms. Karyl Pivott
Student/Research Intern
Ms. Kristen Lynch
Student/Research Intern
Ms. Brittney McKenzie
Student/Research Intern