By NATARIO McKENZIE

Business Reporter

nmckkenzie@tribunemedia.net

A RENEWABLE energy group says it has developed a plan to make the Bahamas self-sufficient, a top executive adding that this could pump $300-$400 million a year back into the economy.

Zev Crystal, chief executive of Sustainable Energy, who has partnered with Phil Holdom, founder of Alternative Power Supply (APS), will present at the 27th annual Bahamas Business Outlook this week on: 'A Model for the World - A small island nation self-sufficient in energy'.

"By creating energy independence and allowing the Bahamas to change, by reducing the cost of energy to much lower than it is today we are adding between $300-$400 million a year back into the economy. This economy needs self-generation because the less you are spending on your electricity bill, the more you will have to spend on something else," said Mr Crystal.

"We will be presenting certain solutions that will not only create the power that the Bahamas needs to become self-sufficient; not just the solar power but the human power. When you look at an economy and a country that has all these jewels sitting here, there has to be a three-dimensional approach to everything that happens here. When we look at the energy sector, it's not just about enhancing the sun and using that to create what we consider very low-cost energy."

Mr Crystal said Sustainable Energy is preparing itself for development within the sustainable energy sector, and is in the process of finalising a plan for government that would make all the Family Islands self-sufficient.

"We are preparing our business and developing a structure so that when it happens we are in a position to develop a plan to look after the Family Islands," Mr Crystal said. "It has to be co-ordinated with engineers for these things to have a long-term effect."