Advancing a culture of effective energy statistics and information management. A study of the CARICOM economic space
| Pages | 26-34 |
| Date | 02 January 2018 |
| Published date | 02 January 2018 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/WJSTSD-05-2017-0010 |
| Author | Earl Green,Charmaine D. DeLisser |
| Subject Matter | Public policy & environmental management,Environmental technology & innovation |
Advancing a culture of
effective energy statistics and
information management
A study of the CARICOM economic space
Earl Green and Charmaine D. DeLisser
Faculty of Engineering and Computing, University of Technology,
Jamaica, Kingston, Jamaica
Abstract
Purpose –The purpose of this paper i s to identify and analyze t he issues associated wi th the use of
modern energy statis tics and information ma nagement (ESIM) cons tructs as informatio n sharing
and decision-making me chanisms in the Carib bean community (CARICO M). The study focuse s on the
strategies required fo ra dvancing accepted regional goals of the creat ion and utilization of ESIM systems
in the CARICOM energy sect or, a vital precursor to na tional and regional gen eration and integratio n of
energy information.
Design/methodology/approach –Primary and secondary data from CARICOM countries were analyzed,
supported by an assessment methodology which examines the impact of the current state of the environment,
and the policy imperatives on the data.
Findings –The research findings suggest that the creation and usage of energy statistics and information in
the region is minimal. Several issues impact negatively on utilization, including political, visibility, awareness,
resource, and cultural factors.
Originality/value –There are several possible alternatives for improving the state of ESIM in the region,
and better understanding the peoples of the region, and the approaches to regional integration and
development are instructive in deciding on the best approach. The solutions articulated in this paper are
intended to achieve more inclusive high-value modalities of operation, optimize skills development and
knowledge transfer, and positively impact the decision-making processes at both regional and state levels.
Keywords Energy, Caribbean integration, CARICOM energy policy, Energy information management,
Energy planning, Energy statistics, ESIM
Paper type Research paper
Introduction
For decades, successful businesses in the world have used to their competitive advantages,
the means to collect, store and process large volumes of information. In the Caribbean
economic space, because of the high-energy costs associated with the operations of
businesses in the region (Caribbean Electric Utility Services Corporation, 2016), energy data
have become an important addition to the management information mix. Transformation to
this new reality is often made possible using energy management and information systems
solutions, a featured modality of contemporary business operation which has now taken
root in many types of productive operations. As enterprises seek to integrate energy
solutions into their strategic business plans, regional governments are required not only to
introduce policies to align with these changing realities, but also, to promote mechanisms
through which policy initiatives may be implemented and monitored. In a sense, regional
stakeholders are now being conditioned to the development and use of a robust protocol for
effective energy statistics and information management (ESIM) to aid decision-making
processes (Gardner, 2017).
A scan of the environment presents no definitive interpretation of ESIM as a unified
branch of knowledge, but rather isolated and individualized definitions. For the purposes of
this research, the definition proffered is of a hybrid nature with inputs from regional experts
World Journal of Science,
Technology and Sustainable
Development
Vol. 15 No. 1, 2018
pp. 26-34
© Emerald PublishingLimited
2042-5945
DOI 10.1108/WJSTSD-05-2017-0010
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
www.emeraldinsight.com/2042-5945.htm
26
WJSTSD
15,1
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