The Bahamas Government’s National Energy Plan (NEP) aims for 30% of the nation’s power to be provided through renewable energy by 2030. Currently, Mr. Guilden Gilbert, Vice-President of Alternative Power Solutions (APS) Bahamas argues this target will be extremely difficult to meet without an Integrated Resource Plan (IRP) that sets out a “framework” which aligns with government energy policies.
To move beyond talk, an IRP is “absolutely necessary”, says Mr. Gilbert, who also backed a $450 000 project funded by the Inter-American Development Bank to support Bahamas Power & Light’s to provide a well-functioning IRP.
So far, the NEP’s “ambitious targets” for renewable energy were said to be hindered by the lack of an executive mechanism to implement their goals. The reformed Electricity and new sector regulator, the Utilities Regulation and Competition Authority were both introduced to address these challenges, but significant positive changes have yet to be seen.
“The sustainable energy landscape within The Bahamas continues to be constrained by policy and data gaps and lacks the resources (financial and human) that are necessary for implementing the robust administrative and governance arrangements that are necessary for effective implementation and coordination of efforts,” an IDB report found.
With the IRP, Bahamas would take its next step to meet its renewable targets and leave its place as lowest ranking nation for renewable energy penetration in the region.
