I've been traveling to Bonaire for 10 years or so and my parents since the early '70's. My Dad, an engineer, and I always wondered why there is so little solar hot water and electricity on the island. I noticed a BT post from 2007 indicating that WEB did not allow it but I was wondering if that has or will be changing. At sometime in the not-to-distant future my wife and I intend to sell our business and buy on the island. I would like to go as green as possible great strides have been made in solar-electric.

Anyone have any insight or comments? There must be some engineers there with the same questions.

The earth ship uses solar power with battery back up.

Hi John.

A good friend of mine has been supplying and fitting solar water heating systems on Bonaire for many years.

If you would like some details directly from her, please contact me with your Email address and I will forward on to her.

Antony.....

Hi John-we have solar for the hot water at KFC. The system was purchased thru Kooyman (Bonaire's version of a Home Depot) & installed by our contractor. It's great.

Thanks all. Does anyone know if photo voltaic is used anywhere? Being about 12 degrees north of the equator means that you have an ideal source of sunlight and some recent improvements in cell efficiency make them almost economically viable - and more than environmentally viable. Every gallon of diesel that is not burnt to power a generator is that much less CO2 in the atmosphere and that much less particulate on the reefs.

And with the constant sea breeze there, wind power would be an obvious winner as well.

Eric, I learned some things about wind power on Bonaire this year from talking with the guide at the butterfly farm. It's not as obvious a winner as I thought because there are 2 months when there is no wind. Those 2 months are when there is the most demand for electricity to run air conditioners. We had a couple of windless days in late February and even I used the AC, so I understand the need. So, a second system is needed for those months, which is expensive. Probably solar will turn out to be a better answer for year-round power on the island. Oh, but there's a rainy season...Anyway, like most things, it's more complicated than it first seems.

Bonnie, absolutely agree with you. I think that sun, wind, tidal, etc. sources (renewable) should always run in a synergistic fashion. Heck, plant a nuclear reactor on Klein. Just kidding!!!

e.