New three-year energy roadmap unveiled

The government is set to unveil an updated strategic roadmap shaping the island’s energy landscape over the next three years, Minister of Energy and Business Development Senator Lisa Cummins announced on Friday.

 The just-completed 2023 Integrated Resource and Resilience Plan (IRRP) is to be presented to ministers in the coming weeks, she told reporters.

IRRPs are used by countries worldwide to plan future electricity supply from various resources.  They are integrated because they consider many different resources to satisfy the need for electric power.

“One of the key things for countries is predictability, transparency and clarity, and an Integrated Resource and Resilience Plan helps provide that,” she said. “It tells countries what sectors will be included in their energy mix, outlines the options and assesses the requirements and timelines for each country.”

Barbados’ previous IRRP dated from 2021 and Cummins said it needed updating due to rapidly evolving technologies. “Barbadians responded very enthusiastically to solar PV, but then projects involving hydrogen and biomass emerged, energy sources not covered in the original document,” she explained.

The updated plan examined technologies that have emerged since 2021. “The consultants concluded viable options for Barbados remained as they were in 2021, being commercially viable and in line with global practices. So the 2023 IRRP will set the roadmap for Barbados for the next three years,” Senator Cummins said.

She acknowledged the plan’s inclusivity and responsiveness to market dynamics, citing the government’s responsibility to adopt cost-effective, technologically viable solutions.  

Senator Cummins emphasised the plan’s community focus in promoting a “just transition” to cleaner energy, questioning: “How much does it cost people? How accessible is it? How do we skill and train people? Are we having a sector dominated by some, but not others?”

She said the ministry would engage with energy players to ensure Barbadians benefit from and contribute to the energy transformation.

Once approved by Cabinet, the 2023 IRRP will be made public to invite feedback from the energy community and the general public. (SM)