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Presenter: Aidan Rogers. Attorney-At- Law
President – Barbados Renewable Energy Association
Topics for Discussion

Regional Energy Crisis
 Current State of Renewable Energy Technology
(RET)
 Legislative Barriers to RET Deployment
 Global and Regional Case Studies
 The Way Forward
Regional Energy Crisis
 Dependence on fuel imports
 Impact on regional economies
♦ Economic impact;
♦ Social impact;
Current State of RET
 What is RE and RET?
♦ Renewable energy (RE) - Any naturally
occurring, theoretically inexhaustible source of energy,
such as biomass, solar, wind, tidal, wave, and
hydroelectric power, that is not derived from fossil or
nuclear fuel.
♦ Renewable energy technology (RET) - devices
that utilise renewable energy resources such as solar
panels, wind turbines and bio-digesters.
Current State of RET cont’d
 Significant decline in cost of technologies
 Fastest growing sectors globally
 Region has a geographic advantage
Barriers to RET deployment
Lack of political will
Absence of clear legislative and regulatory framework
Existence of monopolistic structures in electricity
generation regionally
Scarcity of financing options
Lack of technical resources both in government and
private sector
Outdated grid infrastructure
Global and Regional Case studies
♦ Hawaii
♦ USVI
♦ Barbados
♦ BVI
 Legislative & Regulatory framework
♦ 1978 US Public Utilities Regulations
Policy Act (PURPA)
♦2005 Amendment to (PURPA) to allow for
Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS)
Hawaii at a Glance
 Programme Successes & Lessons
♦ Long history of RE projects (hydro) under PURPA
♦ Several wind and solar farms
♦ World leader in island nation deployment of RET
and regulatory approaches
♦ Ranked 2nd for RE penetration per capita in the USA
♦ Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative - a viable model for
island states
♦ Increasing adoption of hybrid and electric vehicles.
♦ Pitfalls associated with Avoided Fuel Costs
USVI at a Glance
 Programme Successes & Lessons
♦ Passage of Act 7075 in 2009 (Renewable Act )
♦ Establishment of Renewable Energy Policy
♦ Establishment of a Net Metering Program
♦ RE Target of 60% by 2025
♦ Tax concessions and incentives for the installation of
solar water heater units
♦ Execution of 6 power purchase agreements (PPA’s) in
June 2012 for solar projects totalling 18 Megawatts
♦ Completion of transportation fuel study
♦ Projected creation of 2500 green jobs
A Tale of Two Cities
USVI
 Approved Energy Policy 2010:
60 % RE by 2025
 Act 7075 (2009 Renewable
Energy Act)
 International NGO support from
Energy Development in Island
Nations (EDIN)
 Self generation permitted (Net
Metering subchapter IV under
Act 7075)
 Several approved utility scale RE
projects
 Dedicated government
Department responsible for RE
BVI
 No Energy Policy
 BVIEC Ordinance of 1978
 Absence of International
NGO support
 Restriction on self generation
of electricity (sec 36 of BVIEC
Ordinance)
 Absence of utility scale RE
projects
 No dedicated government
portfolio for RE
Barbados at a Glance
 Programme Initiatives
♦ Draft Energy Policy (2006 & 2010)
♦ Passage of the Electricity Power Act, 2013
♦ Renewable Energy Rider Pilot Programme (2010 to
present)
♦ Lucrative tax incentives and concessions
♦ Increasing Financing Options (Commercial Banks
and Institutional Banks)
♦ Local NGO (Barbados Renewable Energy
Association)
Is Barbados at the Crossroads?
 Uncertainty surrounding complete mix of RET
options (wind, solar, biomass, waste to energy)
 Uncertainty over deregulation process largely due to
the lack of a National Sustainable Energy Policy
 Diverging interests of utility company and government
(Rate of Regulation vs. Decoupling) regulatory model
 Over reliance on revenue generation from the sale and
distribution of petroleum products.
The Way Forward
 Creation of a robust investment environment to attract
local and foreign investment
 Establishment of transparent Energy Policies and
Legislative and Regulatory framework.
 Continued partnership with NGO’s such as the
International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA)
 Establishment of dedicated and fully staffed RE
departments
 Enlisting of technical expertise for the selection of
appropriate RET’s
 Increased public education via local NGO’s
Options for Sustainable Cities
 Expansion of Smart Grid, Smart Cities Infrastructure
 Introduction of Electrified Transportation
 Implementation of a comprehensive Fuel and Vehicle
Miles Reduction Strategy – Park & Ride, Mass Transit
and Traffic Free Zones
 Introduction of Urban Climate Controlled
Greenhouses.
 Integrated Waste Management and Energy Generating
Systems – Anaerobic Bio-digestion of household waste
THE END
THANK YOU!!