The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries

RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENT

BARBADOS

3.3 | BARBADOS

Barbados is an island of about 430 square kilometres and a population of about 274,465 3 . Its main economic sectors are tourism and the offshore financial sector. The electricity utility is owned by Emera, a Canadian company, and has an installed capacity of 286.6 MW as reported in their energy score card for 2018. Barbados has about 37 MW capacity of renewables. All the RE is from PVs with about 20 MW from utility scale generation and 17 MW from distributed generation. The Barbados Light & Power (BL&P) is actively involved in RE generation for the grid but not for customers within the competitive RE industry. Emera, however, also owns a subsidiary which installs PV for customers.

3.3.1 | LEAD GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES

The Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship is the lead ministry for the energy portfolio, and there is significant consultation between eight other ministries; some more than others. This is usually to obtain the requisite input into the decision-making process and some national reporting like the NDC and sustainable development plans. Together they have developed all the National Energy related Policy and Regulatory documentation to facilitate an active RE Industry and energy sector. There are 40 resources available to execute their functions including a project unit in the Division of Energy which coordinates energy related activities amongst the several ministry stakeholders. They actively develop programs to encourage private sector involvement in the RE industry. The lead Ministry’s relationship with the other external stakeholders is depicted in the diagram right.

UTILITIES REGULATOR

PRIVATE SECTOR INSTITUTIONS

REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS

LEAD GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES

FUNDING AGENCIES

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANIES

Figure 3.11 | Relationships of Barbados’ Lead Government Ministries

3 - Barbados Statistical Services (2017)

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The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries