CARICOM | TAPSEC – Leading the RE/EE policy & regulation transition across the Caribbean

The launch of the CARICOM Energy Policy and Regulations Help Desk, on July 29, 2020, promised major support in advancing the region’s transition to renewable energy (RE) resources as agencies face supply and economic challenges with imported fossil fuels.

The Help Desk will provide member states with technical assistance for

(i) the modernisation of energy policies and legislation including the implementation of activities consistent with national policy objectives and;

(ii) the review or modernisation of regulatory frameworks, regulatory support and electric utility services. Eligible institutions will have access to policy support in key areas such as energy efficiency applications; RE technologies; climate resilient energy systems and energy resilience; electric mobility and sustainable energy use in transport; and grid modernisation. They can also access regulatory and utility-specific assistance to advance the above services and power purchase agreements and negotiations; tariff setting, reviews and changing rate structures; service studies; rate variation applications; rate adjustment mechanisms; modernisation of rate variation procedures and regulations; and the development of grid codes and grid modelling.

The Help Desk will provide first support to Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica and St. Lucia and regionally to develop the Regional Electric Vehicle Strategy for the Region.

The Help Desk is an intervention of the European Union and the German Federal Ministry of Economic Development and Cooperation (BMZ) funded Technical Assistance Programme for Sustainable Energy in the Caribbean (TAPSEC), implemented by the GIZ in collaboration with CARICOM Secretariat and the Ministry of Energy and Mines in the Dominican Republic.

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For further information on the Help Desk, please visit https://tapsec.org/policyhelpdesk/ or contact sparkle.prentice@giz.de