William L. Hinds

William L. A. Hinds (born February 3, 1961) is a Barbadian advisor on renewable energy sources in the West Indies and an advisor to the Prime Minister of Barbados.

In 1984, Hinds was awarded the British Government's Chevening Scholarship and subsequently earned a Master of Science in Alternative Energy from the University of Reading.^[2] Hinds was also a recipient of the International Visitor Leadership Program provided by the United States Department of State in 2008.

Hinds was born in Barbados on February 3, 1961. He received his secondary education at Harrison College in Barbados and later studied at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus, where he obtained a Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Sciences.^[3]

In 1986, Hinds completed his master's degree in alternative energy for developing countries.^[2] He then returned to Barbados and worked on Organization of American States (OAS) and Inter-American Development Bank (IADB) projects involving biogas digesters and wind energy.^[4]

By 1990, Hinds started a company to produce solar dryers for agricultural and industrial purposes. He developed a walk-in solar dryer with computerized temperature controls and backup heating to improve the shelf life of a cream of wheat type product from two months to 12 months, which made it suitable for export.

Between 1990 and 1996, he developed a solar dryer for drying imported lumber used by the local furniture industry. In 1996, Hinds joined the University of the West Indies (UWI), Cave Hill Campus, as project manager of the Solar Programme. He developed solar dryers and solar stills and installed many solar electric systems that had been commissioned by the Barbados Government at the time.

In 2004, Hinds introduced Barbados' first solar electric vehicle, a solar powered golf cart, following the earlier introduction of Barbados’ first solar powered bicycle. Solar shuttles were used for city tours, and Hinds was invited by the Government of Trinidad and Tobago to provide one for the 2009 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting.

Hinds developed and taught Barbados’ first PV installation courses to over 100 participants from four Caribbean countries. He trained 27 persons in Belize and 20 staff of the Anguilla electric utility. He conceptualized and designed regional renewable energy projects that received support from over 13 Caribbean countries and the Global Environmental Facility. This project evolved into the Caribbean Renewable Energy Development Project based at the CARICOM Secretariat, Guyana.

Hinds contributed to the development of the Caribbean's first large scale solar powered ice plant in Skeete's Bay, St Philip, Barbados; Barbados' first solar demonstration house, located in Queen's Park, Bridgetown; and Trinidad's first solar demonstration house located at the University of Trinidad and Tobago.

He wrote Householders Guide to Cool Solar Houses,^[2],^[5] and Garden Adventure, How a Solar Water Heater Works.^[6][7]

In 2024, Hinds was a representative for the Caribbean Development Bank.^[8][9]

Between 1990 and 1996, Hinds worked as a development officer for the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

In 2024, Hinds was serving as Chief Energy Conservation Officer in the Energy and Telecommunications Division in the Office of the Prime Minister.^[10][11][12] During his time there, he established the Solar Transport Project.^[2]