Last Updated on January 10, 2025, 4:01 AM AST by Anthony Morris
Basseterre, St. Kitts: Laying out the government’s agenda for the year 2025 during the round table media conference Prime Minister, Dr. Terrance Drew, stated that the impetus during 2025 will remain on promoting renewable energy sources within the nation.
The Prime Minister said that the government was in talks with the Republic of China (Taiwan) for setting up a 50 megawatt solar farm in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The government has finalized the modalities of the agreement and the work on the solar farm is expected to begin later, this year. This project will also have a battery storage facility so that the energy generated from this project can be used even during the night hours.
The government had earlier also planned to set up this solar farm, but due to certain issues with the private company which was to develop this farm, the project could not be taken off. An announcement in this regard was made by St. Kitts Electricity Company Ltd on December 09, 2024.
The Prime Minister said that the Nation was also working to explore the possibilities of setting up geothermal power stations within the nation for which funding has been secured. He said that by developing renewable sources of energy St. Kitts and Nevis will be able to bring down the cost of power not just for the domestic consumption but also for the businesses which will make them competitive in the international market.
The Prime Minister said that the local businesses were mostly energy intensive and now cruise ships that dock on the ports of St. Kitts and Nevis are also requesting offshore power.
The Prime Minister said that if the nation can provide electricity at lower cost it will benefit the local trade and industry while ensuring a sustainable development for years to come.
He said that the government was also working out a strategy under which new houses that are being constructed will have solar panels on rooftops. These solar panels will be linked to the grid and will not only provide cheaper electricity to the families living in these houses, but will also feed the local grids with electricity generated from solar energy.
He said that a special tariff was being worked out to fix the appropriate rate of renewable energy which will be sold to the electric grade by the households and companies that would be setting up solar farms in the nation.
Anthony Morris covers stories related to politics and regional developments. His in-depth reporting about governance and reforms makes him stand out in regional journalism, with a deep analysis of political trends and their impact on Caribbean communities.
