Change in vehicle policy – Energy minister

From next month, all new government vehicles will be electric or hybrid.

This decision has been made by Cabinet according to Minister of Energy and Business Development, Senator Lisa Cummins, who has also indicated that Barbados will have a new Electricity Supply Act.

Speaking at Monday’s Barbados Energy Storage Solutions Forum at Hilton Barbados Resort, Needham’s Point, St Michael, Cummins said the new act, expected to come on stream this year, will allow for standard form power purchase agreements.

“This will allow for complete transformation in the way in which our electricity market is regulated for the first time in decades,” she said.

The minister explained that just last week Nissan Global, Courtesy Garage and Goddards Group partnered to launch a new vehicle to grid technology locally as the country expands its electric car fleet.

“Loans to our travelling officers in government for the purchase of vehicles have been increased to facilitate the purchase of electric and hybrid vehicles,” Cummins said.

She said that while the Government has invested in 49 electric buses, it intends to purchase an additional ten, with discussions ongoing regarding expanding the fleet even further. 

She said that to date, 3.31 megawatts of solar voltaic systems have already been installed on government-owned buildings, with an additional 100 buildings currently being assessed to increase the capacity. 

Indicating that Barbados has been implementing incentives, programmes and projects in support of the country’s transition to renewable energy, Cummins stressed that much more needs to be done in this regard. 

“Barbados is that nation that is leading the way in making the renewable energy target a real lived reality. But there is still more to do. We have made a commitment that there must be a minimum of 30 per cent local ownership in all renewable energy projects. 

“And while there must always be space for international investment, international partnering, we want to ensure that there is local ownership in the assets that are ours. The sun, the wind, these are all part of the Barbadian patrimony and so 30 per cent local ownership is important to who we are as a people,” Cummins said.

The Barbados Energy Storage Solution Forum is part of the Caribbean Energy Sector Reform United States $10.8 million project which is being funded by the United States Agency International Development (USAID).

The Caribbean Energy Sector Reform is a four-and-a-half-year project which promoted self-reliance in 13 Caribbean countries by bolstering the performance of energy systems. 

The project contributes towards energy independence, productive and diverse economies, and resilience, in addition to advancing key energy security and climate adaptation objectives under the Partnership with the Caribbean to Address the Climate Crisis or PACC 2030. 

USAID intends to carry out solar and wind potential assessments to provide a basis for project development and regulatory reform; promote regional collaboration across stakeholders at all levels of government and the international donor community and support the implementation of a regional electric vehicle strategy through the promotion of electric vehicle charging stations and feasibility studies.

The agency will work to enhance the capacity of regulators in St Lucia and Grenada; help to develop market rules for energy storage in Barbados; and collaborate with the regional institutions of the Caribbean Community to sustain results. 

In Barbados, key energy stakeholders will be engaged to define and implement a roadmap to advance battery storage penetration to complement the accelerated expansion of solar energy, a system expected to be a key example for the region on how to integrate high volumes of renewable energy while addressing technical integration challenges currently limiting the transition to cleaner and more renewable energy in the region.

US Ambassador to Barbados, Linda Taglialatela, said she was pleased to launch the programme which would strengthen energy security in the region. 

“The events of the last few years, a pandemic, storms, volcanic eruptions and crises, have tested us. They have also shown us how resilient we can be and how much more resilient we need to be. 

“Looking to the future, we must give special attention to building energy infrastructure. Securing portable, reliable and accessible energy supplies is an essential element of resilience. 

“Having energy when we need it and at a price that we can afford keeps the economy humming, it keeps our water in our pipes, it keeps our hospitals, ports and essential services open,” Taglialatela said.

(AH)