The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries

ST. VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

RENEWABLE ENERGY INDUSTRY STAKEHOLDER ASSESSMENT

PSIs are more active with Government and external institutions who handle major financing. The other relationships appear less active because of the market uncertainties and lack of clear policies and regulations impacting the RE Industry; e.g. interconnection by residential and commercial properties.

3.13.5 | HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

The institution in St. Vincent that could potentially provide teaching and training for RE professionals is the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Community College (SVGCC). It was established in 2005 and does not offer renewable energy courses, has no research capacity and has no significant relationships with the other key stakeholders in the RE Industry. The HEI stakeholder relationships are extrapolated from the other stakeholders that interact with them.

3.13.6 | RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANIES

While the energy policies in St. Vincent are in place for interconnection of distributed small energy generators, the absence of the regulations which govern that connection has created uncertainty and inhibited the growth of the RE industry. This is further compounded by the fact that there is no independent regulation and government controls most of the sector. The few RECs which currently operate in this sector offer design and installation of PV systems along with auditing services. They target all segments of the market RECs have on average 8 staff ranging from 2 to 20 and have been in business for an average of 20 years, varying from 12 to 32 years. Their scope of operations covers most of the current local market needs and they do outsource equipment installation to the mobile labour market in order to meet their residential and commercial demands. Their relationship with the other key stakeholders is depicted in the diagram below.

LEAD GOVERNMENT MINISTRIES

PRIVATE SECTOR INSTITUTIONS

REGIONAL INSTITUTIONS

RENEWABLE ENERGY COMPANIES

FUNDING AGENCIES

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

HIGHER EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS

UTILITY REGULATOR

Figure 3.67 | Relationships of St. Vincent’s Renewable Energy Companies

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The Renewable Energy Industry in CARIFORUM Countries