BY SHARON AUSTIN | AUG 23, 2022
Persons who have a renewable system on their house may expand it up to a total capacity of 10kW, without the need for a licence. (Stock Photo)
The Householders’ Right to Renewable Energy Policy (RTRE) is now in operation, and persons installing domestic renewable energy systems up to 10 kilowatts (kW) will no longer have to apply for a licence.
Chief Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Officer in the Ministry of Energy and Business, William Hinds, made this disclosure today, as he addressed a press briefing about the RTRE Policy, at the Energy Division. He said the rollout of the policy means that householders will also now have space reserved on the electric grid for their renewable energy (RE) system, until they are ready to invest.
Mr. Hinds continued: “The Right to Renewable Energy Policy allows all householders who wish to install a renewable energy system on their property to have an almost instantaneous acceptance of their request, rather than having to go through the longer licensing process, where approval of the application is not guaranteed. The policy simplifies the process for householders to be connected to the grid.
“The purpose of the policy is to ensure that every householder can benefit financially by investing in the renewable energy sector. The benefits include reduced electricity bills and the potential for householders to earn revenue from the system installed, if their output is greater than usage.”
In this year’s Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley outlined a policy to, among other things, give every Barbadian household the right to own and install RE systems up to a maximum of 10 kW, without the requirement for a Generation Licence under the Electric Light and Power Act (ELPA).
Previously, renewable energy systems of 5kW and above were required to have a licence under the ELPA. This licence attracted an application and licence fee that had to be paid by the householder.
The Right to Renewable Energy Policy raises this threshold to system sizes up to 10kW. Persons who have a renewable system on their house may expand it up to a total capacity of 10kW, without the need for a licence.
Mr. Hinds disclosed that the Ministry of Energy and Business has developed an online portal for domestic renewable energy systems up to 10kW. The Right to Renewable Energy Online Portal is accessible through the Ministry’s website – www.energy.gov.bb – or via the link https://apps.energy.gov.bb/re4me/.
“This is a fully online and immediate registration process, and householders will receive their certificate within minutes of applying,” the Chief Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Officer stated.
The Government Electrical Engineering Department has provided free pre-approved single line design drawings for renewable energy systems for householders. These designs are available on the Right to Renewable Energy Online Portal, or they may be downloaded from the Ministry’s website. Persons may also use their own designs.
To register on the portal, householders are required to provide the following information:
- Contact information – name, address, phone, email address;
- The Barbados Light and Power account and meter numbers, as shown on the electricity bill, to which the renewable energy system will be connected;
- Barbados National Registration number or passport number;
- Roof size in square feet, if the system will be mounted on the roof;
- The type and size of the renewable energy system, for example, 2.5kW solar.
On completion of the online registration form, a verification code will be sent to the email address provided, which the applicant must enter when prompted, and then the registration certificate will be immediately sent.
