Caricom nations have made notable progress in their renewable energy goals, achieving 12% renewable electricity penetration by 2022.
This figure was highlighted during a webinar hosted by the Caribbean Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (CCREEE) on July 30, where they launched the 2022 CARICOM energy report cards.
Though CARICOM set a target of 27% installed renewable energy capacity by 2022, the region reached approximately 700 megawatts of renewable capacity. Ayanna Evelyn from CCREEE acknowledged that while the 2022 target wasn’t fully met, the groundwork has been laid for future progress. “We anticipate even more significant progress reflected in the 2023 energy report card,” she said.
The region’s vast potential in solar, wind, hydro, geothermal, and biomass energy was also underscored. James Fletcher CCREEE chairman, highlighted the Caribbean’s leadership in global climate action, despite its minimal contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. “It is important for us to demonstrate that… we are actively working to lower global temperatures back to 1.5 degrees Celsius,” Fletcher stated.
Sandra Britton, CARICOM Secretariat’s energy program manager, praised the energy report cards as essential for planning a sustainable future. Joseph Williams from the Caribbean Development Bank stressed the importance of evidence-based policymaking.
In St Kitts and Nevis, significant strides have been made towards decarbonization, but more work remains. With vast geothermal and solar energy potential, the nation is poised for a transformative shift. Looking towards the 2027 47% target and beyond, CCREEE’s Cherri Ann Farquharson emphasized the need for strong policies and collaboration to drive investment and improve regional energy security. “By focusing on regional energy integration, sharing lessons learned, and pooling our capacities… we can accelerate our progress,” she said.
Source/Photo Credit: Jamaica Gleaner.
