The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries

COUNTRY INDICATOR ANALYSIS

environments have led to low demand and limited capacity in RECs, there still exists the possibility to explore the self-generation RE market if local research can confirm its existence.

and capacity to ramp up their operations to service new demands. With this competitive edge, the requisite market education and targeted promotion, these companies may also become driving factors in the development of their local RE industry.

Despite the unfavourable RE environment in some countries where existing policy and regulatory

4.4 | RE MARKET STRUCTURES All the countries in this study have set goals and targets which communicate their desire for some degrees of liberalization in their electricity markets. Some are more eager than others, often linked to the relationship between the electricity utility and the government. The table right shows the ownership status of the utilities in each country. The decision to liberalize the electricity sector is ultimately owned by government but never becomes effective by a simple signature. The process takes time and relies on the cooperation of the utility, which is in most cases, the sole distributor of electricity in the country. In fact, the sector comprises of generation, transmission and distribution. The general liberalization conversation is one about generation and this has been the focus of governments so far. There has been little attempt to liberalize the other two (2) components in the Region, i.e., transmission and distribution. The utilities own the transmission and distribution infrastructure much like the monopoly telecommunications utilities of the past. All new entrants to the telecommunications sector depended on the incumbent to deliver most customer phone calls. Similarly, all electricity generation for the general public depends on the utility to receive and distribute it. This excludes standalone mini grids which are community-based. These off-grid systems

COUNTRY

OWNERSHIP STATUS

Antigua & Barbuda State owned Bahamas State owned Barbados

Privately owned (Foreign)

Belize

State owned

Dominica

Privately owned (Foreign)

Dominican Republic State owned Grenada

In transition to State ownership

Guyana

State owned State owned

Haiti

Jamaica

Privately owned (Foreign)

St. Kitts & Nevis

State owned

St. Lucia

Public-Private (Foreign) owned

St. Vincent & Grenadines Suriname

State owned

State owned Trinidad & Tobago State owned

Table 4.10 | Electricity Utility Ownership

The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries

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