Enviro News Asia, Grenada – A new feasibility report highlights that transforming organic waste into compost while integrating renewable energy could significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions, lower operational costs, and support climate-smart agriculture in Grenada.
The report, titled Feasibility Assessment of Compost Potential in Grenada, was published by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) under the “Scaling up Climate Ambition on Land Use and Agriculture through Nationally Determined Contributions and National Adaptation Plans (SCALA)” project.
The study examines how composting organic waste combined with solar photovoltaic energy systems can address two major challenges in the Caribbean island nation: waste management and sustainable agricultural production.
Waste management has become increasingly urgent in Grenada due to limited landfill capacity and environmental risks associated with conventional waste disposal methods. At the same time, the country remains heavily dependent on imported fertilizers and fossil fuels, leaving its agricultural sector vulnerable to global price fluctuations and climate-related disruptions.
According to the report, organic waste that is currently discarded can be converted into compost, providing a locally produced soil amendment for farmers while reducing landfill pressure.
“Diverting organic waste away from the landfill to the fields through composting could cover at least 16 percent of the macronutrient needs of Grenada’s agrifood sector while reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the organic waste used for composting by 98 percent,” the report states.
The assessment also evaluates the financial and technical feasibility of compost production facilities. Electricity represents a significant cost factor in composting operations, as energy is required for shredding, handling, compaction, and packaging processes.
A typical compost plant capable of processing approximately 6,500 tonnes of organic waste per year would incur annual electricity costs exceeding USD 80,000 if powered entirely by grid electricity, accounting for more than 40 percent of total operational expenses.
The report suggests that integrating solar photovoltaic systems into composting facilities could reduce electricity costs by around 80 percent, despite requiring higher initial investment.
Renewable energy solutions could also benefit small-scale and decentralized composting facilities operated by smallholder farmers. Installing smaller photovoltaic systems would allow rural producers to reduce dependence on grid electricity, improve energy access in remote areas, and enhance the viability of local compost production.
The study concludes that renewable energy integration can serve as a key driver of climate-smart agriculture by reducing emissions, strengthening energy independence, improving economic outcomes, and supporting more resilient agrifood systems in Grenada. (*)
