Eight Energy Facts for Barbados

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 1. Barbados depends on the importation of fossil fuels for energy generation.

2. The island currently has a diverse supply of power from three fossil fuel generation plants (256 MW), one PV solar plant (10 MW) and a number of independent power producers with customer owned rooftop, solar PV and wind generation capabilities (20 MW).

3. Renewable energy accounted for 11% of capacity and 4.4% by energy produced on the island at the end of 2018. 

4. The Electric Light and Power Act 2013 grants licenses to individuals for the supply of electricity derived from renewable sources to the public grid. 

5. The National Energy Policy outlines a framework towards attaining carbon neutrality and 100% renewable energy by 2030, estimating energy savings of up to 800 million per year at 2019 market prices. This would entail a 48% reduction in the usage of fossil fuels and a 52% increase in the renewable energy by 2023. 

6. Barbados successfully implemented the installation of solar water heaters in households, encouraged by economic incentives, tax write-offs and entrepreneurship. 

7. The government has set a target of 35000 rooftop installations of solar PV systems and encouraging individual entrepreneurship in photovoltaic projects (alongside the larger 10 MW solar farm established by the local utility). 

8. The Government encourages business sector initiatives such as the Barbados Water Authority Renewable Energy Project that involved the creation of a 500 kilowatt solar PV system to be constructed at the Bowmanston pumping Station at a cost of USD 3.5 million. 

9. Intent to eliminate the use of diesel and gasoline for transportation either through retrofitting the current vehicle fleet or a phased approach of restricting the importation of conventional vehicles and encouraging that of electric or alternative energy vehicles. 

10. The use of LED and other energy-efficient initiatives, are encouraged.

11. The island created the Barbados Renewable Energy Association to advocate and encourage the use of renewable energy.  

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