Powering Possibility: CTI Equips Students for a Renewable Energy Future

Powering Possibility:

CTI Equips Students for a Renewable Energy Future

Unreliable electricity has long affected families, schools, and businesses on Eleuthera. With frequent outages and rising energy costs, communities are looking urgently toward sustainable solutions. This year, CTI stepped boldly into that gap by delivering a transformative Solar Design and Installation Basics Apprenticeship, preparing residents for meaningful work in one of the world’s fastest-growing industries. This program was provided in partnership with Alternative Power Sources (APS) Limited and a generous donor.

In October, CTI hosted a cohort of aspiring technicians for an intensive, hands-on solar installation course taught by Dr. Wayde Marr, President of Vector Technology Institute (VTI) in Jamaica and a respected leader in renewable technology. His expertise brought global best practices directly to Eleuthera’s doorstep, expanding students’ understanding of solar design, system layout, safety, and maintenance.

This training was integrated into CTI’s 12-week Learn and Earn Electrical Installation Phase III program, an initiative that pays students a stipend as they learn and build real-world, employable skills. This design ensures access for those who need it most, especially youth leaving school and young people seeking stable careers without the financial burden of traditional training pathways or the hardship of leaving their island home.

Participants gained foundational competencies in:

Installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems
Troubleshooting and maintenance
Energy efficiency and load assessments
System safety, testing, and performance evaluation
Understanding clean-energy technologies and applications

These skills will expand the students’ employability, enabling them to support solar installations for homes, businesses, and community institutions across the island.

Aligning Education With National Development Goals

The course arrives at a critical time for The Bahamas, where climate resilience and sustainable energy are national priorities. This program directly supports the country’s goals of reducing carbon emissions, lowering energy imports, and expanding renewable energy infrastructure.

For Eleuthera, where blackouts can last hours or days, locally trained solar technicians mean stronger resilience and faster recovery, especially for vulnerable households, clinics, small businesses, and community facilities looking to implement solar power as a clean energy alternative.

Solar energy is one of the most rapidly expanding sectors worldwide. By equipping Eleutherans with industry-relevant skills, OEF and CTI are bridging the local skills gap and ensuring that young Bahamians are not just observers of the green economy but active contributors and leaders in it.

This program empowers participants to:

Start or expand technical careers
Support local solar companies
Earn higher wages
Offer services that help families reduce energy bills
Strengthen community resilience to climate shocks

Support That Illuminates Futures

Thanks to OEF donors and partners, CTI continues to deliver training that meets real community needs while securing long-term economic opportunity for residents. Your support ensures that more Eleutherans can access renewable energy education — paving the way for cleaner, more sustainable communities across the island.

With continued investment, we can expand this training, certify more technicians, and build a greener future for Eleuthera, one student at a time.