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Amendment to bring transparency to licensing process

by Shamar Blunt
2 min read
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New protocols and policies are coming to streamline the application process for new power generation and storage capacity solutions on the island, says Minister of Energy and Business Senator Lisa Cummins.

Speaking in the Senate on Wednesday during the debate on the Electric Light and Power (Amendment) Bill 2022, Cummins said the previous version of the bill had not kept pace with the green energy transformation on the island. She said the new amendment seeks to provide an open and transparent process for individuals and companies seeking to delve into the growing power generation and storage capacity sectors.

She explained that the new bill makes provisions to cover: “The generation systems that are a part of, or connected to the public grid; the generation system of licences, and the renewable energy generation systems that are a part of, or connected to the public grid. Each type of renewable generation system is classified according to the source of renewable energy utilised.”

Senator Cummins told the Upper Chamber that among the key areas for consideration before the granting of licences would be financial capacity to build and maintain the facilities; technical  capacity necessary, as well as capacity to minimise damage to the environment.

Also before granting licences, the minister is required to consider the recommendations of the committee in relation to the applicant and the minister should take into account the current and projected demand for electricity.

Additionally, Planning permission from the Town and Country Planning Department must also have been obtained, prior to the application for the licence.

While acknowledging that the lack of energy storage capacity is a challenge at this time, Cummins said it was an area on which her ministry was actively working. However, she added, the worldwide challenges with supply of raw materials and other necessary resources, continued to present a problem.

“Globally, there is a shortage of storage. One of the largest companies in the world that produces battery storage is citing shortage and global supply chain challenges with the parts [used] to create the batteries.

“Barbados is no different than many other countries in the world, having a long wait time for the procurement of storage capacity. So the issue of storage has to be navigated; the issue of how much storage has to be navigated; the issue of the cost of that storage has to be navigated, and principally for those who are looking to invest in that storage, the rate of that storage has to also be navigated.”  (SB)

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