DR Raymond Wright, group managing director of the Petroleum Corporation of Jamaica (PCJ), is to be honoured for his outstanding work in renewable energy at the World Renewable Energy Congress, being held in Cologne, Germany.

The conference, which started on Saturday, runs until Friday and the awards ceremony is scheduled for Wednesday.

The congress which takes place under the patronage of the prime minister of North Rhine, Westphalia, Wolfgang Clement, is being hosted by the World Renewable Energy Network, an affiliate of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organisation (UNESCO).

Wright, who will be bestowed with the title “Pioneer in Renewable Energy”, is among 20 leading scientists, heads of organisations and international experts who will be recognised for their contribution in the field.

As head of the PCJ, the organisation responsible to the Ministry of Mining and Energy to ensure energy security, Wright has spearheaded research and initiatives for the development of peat as a fuel, and has consistently promoted projects in clean energy such as hydropower, wind, biomass and solar, in Jamaica’s quest for sustained economic and social development, and long-term environmental preservation.

Under his leadership, the PCJ has been instrumental in formulating national energy efficient strategies to guide the development of a national energy policy.

Other achievements under his tenure included the introduction of a photovoltaic solar programme, and establishment of a viable energy forest project for replication by investors.

He is currently working on the wind farm at Wigton in Manchester, which will utilise 23/900kw turbines to produce 20 megawatts of power. The PCJ managing director is also at the forefront of negotiations for the introduction of liquid natural gas (LNG) in Jamaica, a clean burning fossil fuel that is considerably cheaper than oil.

Wright has worked as an energy consultant in all continents, except Australia, and now serves on a United Nations committee preparing a global energy policy.

The author of two books and more than 110 scientific papers, he was awarded the national honour of Commander of the Order of Distinction (CD) in 1989, and was presented with the Chubb Award for excellence in Geology in 1993.

Three thousand delegates will be attending this year’s World Renewable Energy Congress, which is one of the largest in renewable energy, poverty reduction and climate change.

The participants include ministers of government, leading experts, researchers, industrialists and policy makers; and they will address current trends in renewable energy and the potential for future development.