Barbados ramps up renewable energy transition with global support

In a significant leap towards a fully renewable energy future, Barbados is rapidly implementing its Energy Transition and Investment Plan, bolstered by strong international backing, announced at a global sustainable energy forum. 

The government said it was now focusing on green power initiatives in transport, manufacturing and households, marking a critical phase in its transition plan.

Sharing the next steps, Minister of Energy and Business Development Senator Lisa Cummins noted that the island will be hitting the ground running fresh off the heels of the Sustainable Energy for All (SEforAll) Global Forum, which ended here on Thursday.

She told reporters the transition plan is entering its most critical phase—breaking down broad policies into practical steps for businesses and citizens.

“We already have the sectors identified,” she said. “Now, this becomes a work programme, with specific work streams by transportation, by industry.

“We need to work directly with manufacturers and industrial players to determine when their end-of-life fossil fuel equipment will be replaced so they can incorporate the transition into their capital expenditure plans.”

Senator Cummins stressed that beyond national targets, the shift must be felt at the individual level.

“It’s fine to have a macro-level plan, but we have to break it down—to the company, to the individual, to the household,” she said.

The two-day SEforAll forum reinforced the urgency of execution, with international partners rallying behind Barbados’ efforts.

SEforAll CEO Damilola Ogunbiyi commended the country’s leadership and underscored the need to move beyond discussion.

“The last few days have been about reaffirming why climate, development, and energy must go hand in hand,” she said. “Now, we get very, very granular—what are the investments that must happen now? What are the financing needs? How do we ensure access to clean and sustainable energy?”

She further noted that not only did the event attract global leaders in energy transition, but it yielded tangible benefits to the local sector.

Senator Cummins confirmed that Barbados is set to embark on a fully funded investment mission to Europe in the coming weeks to secure financing for its first offshore wind farm.

“We’ve had major investors step forward, recognising that very few countries have done this level of system-wide energy planning,” she revealed. “One group has offered to help make our plan investment-ready, ensuring we bring investors to the table. Another has proposed a regional energy aggregation platform, with full support to build it out.”

The energy and business development minister added that, beyond policy shifts, the forum delivered direct economic benefits to the country, noting that more than 1 300 delegates attended, injecting millions into hotels, restaurants, transport services, and small businesses.

“The restaurants were buzzing. Some delegates went kitesurfing, others spent time on the beaches. Many rented cars and extended their stays. That’s how our tourism sector benefited,” Senator Cummins said.

In a bid to ensure businesses also capitalised on the forum’s presence, the ministry hosted a pop-up business market featuring entrepreneurs supported by Fund Access and Trust Loans at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.

“This wasn’t just an energy forum—it was a business opportunity,” Senator Cummins noted. “Small businesses got a platform to interact with international delegates and make direct sales.”

She further addressed concerns about the event’s cost, stressing that it was fully funded by international partners.

“This has not been at the expense of the government or the people of Barbados,” she said. “International partners believe in what we’re doing; they believe in SEforAll, and they believe in Barbados. They put their money where their mouths were.”

She reiterated one of the main messages coming out of the event, underscoring that the energy transition is no longer a distant goal—it is happening now.

“The time for action is now,” Senator. Cummins said, noting that Barbados has the roadmap, the support, and is ready for implementation. 

shannamoore@barbadostoday.bb