Basseterre, St. Kitts—On June 13, 2024, representatives of the Energy Unit in the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, in a show of inclusivity, convened a meeting with the general public at the Solid Waste Management Corporation to discuss the possible content of the draft regulations for small-scale renewable energy systems such as those driven by solar PV and wind.
Goals
Addressing the audience, the Director of the Energy Unit, Dr. Bertill Browne, stated that the regulations would operate to bridge a gap that the legislative framework does not currently address concerning guidelines and specifications for connecting small-scale renewable energy systems to the electricity grid of St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC) and a tariff regime in St. Kitts and Nevis.
Dr. Browne stated that the regulations should answer critical questions regarding the definition of small-scale projects, participant eligibility, contract structures, and stakeholder roles and responsibilities.
Discussions
Stakeholder Roles and Responsibilities – The Fire Department
In the initial moments of the open discussion following Dr. Browne’s presentation, audience members with technical expertise spoke to the importance of the Fire Department’s role in collaborating with the electricity providers and owners of small-scale renewable energy systems to ensure the safety of technicians and the properties to which the renewable energy devices would be attached.
A Call for the Articulation of Safety Protocol and Standards
Attendees expressed that the regulations should clearly articulate safety protocols and best practices to regulate technicians’ installation and maintenance of renewable energy systems. This would alleviate any concerns about the equipment’s safety and the risk it could pose to technicians and property.
Participation: Would the Regulations Apply to Renters?
Over the next two hours, the public engaged in lively discussions, including whether occupants of residential properties should be permitted to connect small-scale renewable devices to SKELEC’s grid in cases where they are not the owners of those properties. In the absence of legal and electricity personnel, however, the matter was left to be tabled later. Even so, such questions underscore the utility of public consultations in presenting essential questions for consideration.
Essential Features of the Regulations
The group discussed several features of the regulations. Among them were the potential for owners of small-scale renewable energy systems to receive payment or credit for excess energy sold to SKELEC and the setting of an upper limit for the quantity of energy any single provider may supply to SKELEC.
Payment or Credit for Excess Energy
The regulations will permit owners of small-scale renewable energy systems to sell the excess energy they might generate to SKELEC at a rate to be determined. While the public generally welcomed this, some were uncertain whether receipt of credit on their bills would incentivize the public enough for the country to realize its energy-efficiency targets.
An Upper Limit to the Amount of Electricity SKELEC May Harness from a Single Provider
At the time of consultation, stakeholders had yet to indicate a threshold for the maximum output SKELEC may take from any provider of excess energy from small-scale renewable energy systems. Dr. Browne indicated, however, that a fixed, maximum output should incentivize the participation of more households and businesses and support competition among participants by minimizing the risks associated with potential monopolies that could arise without imposing such a limit.
The Team’s Perspectives
Dr. Browne expressed his pleasure with the group’s diversity and the quality of the discussions. Energy Officer Denasio Frank also commented on how the group’s diversity contributed to meaningful discussions.
Next Steps
Following the consultation, Dr. Browne said that the Unit would compile the data and draft regulations for further public review.
About the Public Consultation
The public consultation forms part of the Energy Unit’s wider initiative to facilitate compliance with energy targets comprising the government’s sustainable island-state agenda.
To learn more about the Unit’s work, visit energyunit.gov.kn.
