Basseterre, St. Kitts (MoPIEUDT NEWS) – The Energy Minister, Hon. Konris Maynard, is expected to unveil the solar rooftop program and the Electric Vehicle (EV) Policy and Action Plan within the latter part of 2025. The two initiatives will advance the minister’s previous efforts to accelerate the energy transition in St. Kitts and Nevis.
The Rooftop Solar Program
The rooftop solar program will incorporate the electricity generated by private citizens through solar panels into the electricity grid of the St. Kitts Electricity Company (SKELEC). The launch follows a series of consultations, stakeholder engagements and discussions intended to guide the program’s regulation and implementation.
The Objectives
Following public and stakeholder consultations in 2024, the Energy Unit presented draft regulations which listed the program’s objectives. The following are among them:
- To support the Government’s energy policy of developing a sustainable energy sector where reliable, renewable, clean, and affordable energy services are provided to all of its citizens.
- To diversify the energy mix and reduce dependence on fossil fuel.
- To contribute to the achievement of national and international climate targets.
- To establish a guaranteed price for energy generated by distributed renewable energy sources for a fixed period.
The Incentives
A critical component in the program are the incentives to support its objectives. On energyunit.gov.kn, Minister Maynard’s official statement from 2022 reads:
“Incentives will be given to existing homeowners to retrofit their houses with solar panels.”
-Hon Konris Maynard
The Energy Unit is also exploring ways to incentivize the importation of solar panels to support their inclusion into new construction as well.
Minister Maynard and his team are expected to provide greater detail about these incentives during the program’s rollout, and the education and public relations campaigns in the weeks and months following the program’s launch.
The EV Policy and Action Plan
The second initiative is the Electric Vehicle Policy and Action Plan that aims to increase the quantity of electric vehicles on the island to 2% of the total number of vehicles island wide by 2030.
To support its plan, the Energy Unit will promote the development and deployment of charging infrastructure at single-family dwellings, and bus terminals and also advocate for the importation of EVs.
The Takeaway
The launch symbolizes a milestone in the country’s energy transformation. Not only does it represent stakeholders’ efforts to transform the energy sector, but it also indicates continuous progress towards greater energy security and resilience.
For more information, please visit mopieudt.gov.kn and energyunit.gov.kn and follow the Facebook pages of the Energy Unit and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure.
