St. Lucia Powering Toward 35% RE

As Saint Lucia races toward achieving 35% renewable energy penetration by 2025, the National Utilities Regulatory Commission (NURC) kicked off a Capacity Building Workshop series under the ‘Study for Establishing the Rates of Renewable Energy for Saint Lucia’, an energy pricing project. The six-session training series commenced on February 2nd and will conclude on February 15th. 

The series is facilitated through the CARICOM Energy Policy and Regulations Help Desk, a product of the Technical Assistance Programme for Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean (TAPSEC), jointly funded by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) and the European Union, under the 11th European Development Fund, and implemented by the GIZ. The Help Desk is supporting a broader study that will conduct research and analysis of the optimal pricing methodologies for establishing renewable energy (RE) rates for the island. 

Targeting key local stakeholders and institutions, the series, led by a team of experts from GOPA International Energy Consultants, will build capacity on determining rates for Distributed Generation and Utility-Scale RE and will inform participants of the principles, considerations, methods, and tools used for rate modelling, energy caps, procurement and pricing of renewables. 

NURC Chairman Mr. Lawrence Nervais opened Session One highlighting the Commission’s pledge to create an enabling environment for renewable energy adoption in Saint Lucia, even amidst the global COVID-19 pandemic and while the country awaits the passage of renewable energy legislation.

TAPSEC Senior Policy, Regulations, and Resilience Advisor, Ms. Sparkle Prentice reaffirmed TAPSEC’s commitment to continued collaboration with NURC and Saint Lucia and further cooperation with CARICOM Member Countries via the Help Desk to assist the Caribbean with achieving its clean energy goals through a collective regional approach.