CARICOM member states make progress in renewable energy sector

CARICOM member States have made significant progress towards their renewable energy targets, reaching a commendable 12% renewable electricity penetration by 2022, almost halfway towards their ambitious goal.

The milestone was highlighted during a webinar hosted by the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) on Tuesday, July 30. The event marked the launch of the 2022 CARICOM Energy Report Card, entitled “Success on the Road to 12% by 2022”. The CARICOM Centre for Energy Efficiency provides an overview of the performance of the energy sectors of the 15 CARICOM Member States and the Turks and Caicos Islands and is an important tool for tracking the energy transition in the region. Since the establishment of the CCREEE in 2017, they have played a key role in assessing progress, covering sustainable energy programmes, policies, technical support, workforce development and capacity building efforts.

Despite the ambitious targets set by CARICOM to achieve 27% renewable energy capacity by 2022 and 47% by 2027, CCREEE Knowledge Management Assistant Ayanna Evelyn revealed that the region has already installed around 700 MW of renewable energy capacity. This achievement is a testament to the concerted efforts of the member states, each of which has policies in place or is in the process of developing them to further boost the development of its renewable energy sector.

In presenting the report’s findings, Evelyn acknowledged that while the 2022 target has not yet been fully achieved, the region’s commitment to renewable energy remains steadfast. “The foundation has been laid, and given the positive developments we are seeing in this area, we expect the 2023 Energy Report Card to reflect even more significant progress,” she noted.

Evelyn also highlighted the region’s vast potential for renewable energy, including solar, wind, hydropower, geothermal and biomass, which are key to increasing resilience and energy security in the Caribbean.

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In his speech, CCREEE President James Fletcher highlighted the Caribbean’s leadership in global climate action; despite the region accounting for only 0.2% of global greenhouse gas emissions, it suffers the most severe impacts of climate change. “We must demonstrate that, although we are a small contributor to greenhouse gas emissions, we are also actively working to reduce global temperatures to 1.5 degrees Celsius. This will help us in the negotiations in the field of climate change, especially in United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Changeshowing that we are leading by example,” Fletcher said.

Fletcher also acknowledged the progress made to date, explaining that the Energy Reform Commission also provides valuable insights into the challenges and opportunities facing member states in achieving their energy goals.

Sandra Britton, Energy Programme Manager at the CARICOM Secretariat, praised the ERC as an important tool for understanding the current state of the region’s energy sector and planning for a sustainable and resilient future. She affirmed the CARICOM Secretariat’s continued commitment to supporting the region’s energy transition, ensuring that policies and strategies are based on reliable data and effective planning.

“We are therefore delighted to have the CARICOM Energy Knowledge Centre at CCREEE where they collect much of the energy data so that we can make informed decisions and we can also use this data in the planning and formulation of policies,” Britton commented.

The importance of evidence-based decision-making and performance tracking in energy planning was also stressed by Joseph Williams, Sustainable Energy Coordinator at the Caribbean Development Bank. He highlighted the key role played by the Energy Research Council in assessing progress and ensuring the region meets its reporting obligations to the international community and partners.

Additionally, reporting on decarbonization efforts in St. Kitts and Nevis, Denasio Frank, Energy Officer at the Department of Energy, noted that while the twin-island nation has made significant progress toward its goals, there is still work to be done. With approximately 1,280 megawatts of geothermal energy potential and abundant solar resources, the twin-island nation is poised to transform its energy landscape. Frank also noted that the country has developed a national grid code to encourage investment in solar energy and needs to update its energy policy framework to include provisions for small-scale distributed renewable energy systems and electric vehicles.

Looking ahead to 2027 and beyond, Cherri-Ann Farquharson, CCREEE Capacity Development and Gender Specialist, stressed the importance of strong policies, regulatory frameworks and incentives to drive investment in renewable energy. “CARICOM member States have the natural resources needed to transform the energy sector into a major economic driver, strengthen regional energy security and improve the quality of life for all Caribbean people,” she asserted.

Farquharson stressed that collaboration is key to our success. “By focusing on regional energy integration, sharing lessons learned, and pooling our capabilities and energy resources, we can accelerate progress and achieve greater results,” she said.