A Conversation with the British Virgin Islands International Arbitration Centre (BVIIAC)
The Caribbean’s clean energy revolution is gathering pace. From solar parks in Jamaica to geothermal exploration in Dominica and large-scale wind projects in the Dominican Republic, the region is rewriting its energy story. But behind every ambitious project lies a more complex challenge: how to structure, finance, and safeguard these investments across multiple jurisdictions.
For many investors and developers, the British Virgin Islands (BVI) is emerging as an unexpected yet powerful solution. Known globally for its financial and legal services, the BVI is now applying that expertise to accelerate the region’s clean energy transition, providing a trusted, transparent, and cost-efficient platform for structuring renewable energy projects and resolving disputes.
“The BVI is uniquely placed to help facilitate stable cross-border and complex investment into renewable infrastructure projects,” said Hon. Lorna Smith, OBE, Junior Minister for Financial Services and Economic Development. “Our legal and fiscal framework offers the predictability, transparency, and cost efficiency that international investors expect. This foundation is critical to our trustworthiness, ensuring that long-term projects, such as those in the renewable energy sector, can thrive with confidence.”
That sense of stability and integrity extends beyond finance. Shan Greer, CEO of the British Virgin Islands International Arbitration Centre, emphasized the importance of neutral, enforceable mechanisms to support investor confidence. “The BVI combines the reliability of an English common law system with world-class arbitration and commercial courts,” she said. “For renewable energy projects, where long-term certainty is vital, that stability is invaluable. Investors can come here knowing their agreements will be respected and disputes resolved efficiently and fairly.”
Together, the BVI government and the BVI IAC are positioning the jurisdiction as more than a financial hub, but as a regional partner in building the Caribbean’s sustainable energy future. To learn how this vision is being put into action, New Energy Events spoke with officials from the BVI IAC about how the jurisdiction is helping to structure, safeguard, and accelerate renewable energy investment across the Caribbean.
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________
NEE: Why is the BVI emerging as a preferred jurisdiction for renewable energy investment?
BVI IAC: The BVI’s reputation for stability and legal predictability has long attracted international investors. Rooted in English common law, with final appeals to the Privy Council in London, the BVI legal system provides integrity and reliability; key features for long-term infrastructure projects.
The jurisdiction offers a range of flexible corporate vehicles that can accommodate everything from holding companies to multi-jurisdictional project-finance structures. These entities are internationally recognized and accepted by regulators and financial institutions worldwide, making them well-suited for the complex, capital-intensive nature of renewable projects.
NEE: There are many options globally for structuring clean energy projects. What differentiates the BVI from other jurisdictions?
BVI IAC: The BVI’s advantage lies in combining global credibility with fiscal neutrality. As a tax-neutral jurisdiction, companies are not subject to additional taxes on income or assets generated elsewhere, avoiding double taxation and promoting long-term project viability.
This foundation enhances trust and ensures that long-term projects, such as those in the renewable energy sector, can thrive with confidence. The BVI also maintains its commitment to international standards of transparency and governance, ensuring that investors can access cost-effective, compliant, and globally accepted structures.
NEE: Renewable energy projects often face regulatory shifts or contractual disputes. How does the BVI help investors manage those issues?
BVI IAC: Arbitration plays a central role in the BVI’s investment framework. Through the British BVI IAC and the jurisdiction’s respected Commercial Court, the BVI provides neutral, enforceable, and efficient mechanisms for dispute resolution.
Arbitration awards from the BVI are recognized in over 170 jurisdictions under the New York Convention, an essential safeguard for international investors. These mechanisms help manage conflicts discreetly and effectively, allowing projects to continue without disruption.
renewable energy projects are long-term and technically complex, often involving multiple stakeholders and evolving regulatory environments. Arbitration provides a neutral, confidential, and enforceable way to resolve disputes while maintaining investor confidence and project momentum.
NEE: Can you share an example of how this works in practice?
BVI IAC: Imagine a developer and a utility disagreeing over tariff adjustments or equipment performance. In many regions, that could lead to lengthy litigation. In the BVI, arbitration allows the issue to be resolved confidentially and efficiently before independent experts. This protects commercial relationships and ensures that clean energy projects maintain momentum.
According to the BVI IAC, this ability to combine confidentiality, sector-specific expertise, and enforceable outcomes makes arbitration an increasingly preferred route for infrastructure investors worldwide.
NEE: Who does the BVI see as its peers or competitors in this area?
BVI IAC: The BVI operates in a competitive global landscape that includes hubs such as London, Singapore, and Dubai, as well as regional counterparts like the Cayman Islands and Bermuda. However, the BVI’s unique blend of English-based law, global recognition, fiscal neutrality, and Caribbean identity gives it a strategic edge particularly for renewable investors focused on Latin America and the Caribbean.
NEE: What’s next for the BVI as it deepens its role in renewable investment and dispute resolution?
BVI IAC: A major milestone will be BVI Arbitration Week 2026, taking place March 23–27 in Tortola. The event will explore how arbitration, corporate governance, and financing structures intersect with renewable energy investment and ESG commitments. Discussions will span topics such as project financing, regulatory reform, and dispute resolution in emerging markets.
The BVI government sees this as an opportunity to showcase how robust legal and financial systems can underpin the Caribbean’s clean energy transition and to reinforce the BVI’s position as both a global gateway and a regional partner.
NEE: Finally, why should renewable energy investors be paying attention to the BVI right now?
BVI IAC: The global energy transition demands jurisdictions that combine flexibility, fiscal efficiency, and credibility. The BVI offers all three. For investors seeking stability in an uncertain world, the BVI provides the architecture for project development and a multi-layered safety net for sustainable risk management.
For more information on BVI Arbitration Week 2026, visit www.bviarbitrationweek.org.
