St. Kitts and Nevis advances roadmap toward 100 percent renewable electricity

BASSETERRE, St. Kitts--The Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has begun work on a national roadmap aimed at moving the Federation toward 100 percent renewable electricity generation, a major step in its effort to build a cleaner, more secure and less fossil fuel-dependent energy system.

The initiative is being supported by the European Union through the Euroclima Caribbean program and the Global Gateway Investment Agenda. It is being implemented by the United Nations Development Programme, UNDP, in partnership with the Greening The Islands, GTI, Foundation.

The roadmap will identify the policies, technologies, investments and institutional actions needed to transform the country’s energy sector. It is also intended to help St. Kitts and Nevis increase renewable energy use, strengthen energy security, reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels and support the national target of reducing carbon dioxide emissions by 61 percent by 2030.

The process is expected to take approximately 18 months and will include stakeholder consultations, technical assessments and investment planning involving public and private sector partners.

The initiative was formally launched during a two-day workshop held June 3 and 4 at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort. The workshop also marked the local start of the global 100 percent RES Islands Initiative in St. Kitts and Nevis. Government representatives, energy specialists and international partners used the sessions to review the current state of the energy sector, discuss opportunities and challenges, and outline the next steps toward achieving the country’s renewable energy goals.

Minister of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities, Domestic Transport, Information, Communication and Technology and Posts, Konris G. Maynard, said the roadmap is needed to bring several ongoing and planned energy initiatives into one coordinated national direction.

Maynard pointed to several projects currently at different stages of development, including the Electric Vehicle Transition Policy and Action Plan, the Solar Integration for Sustainable Energy Program, geothermal development in Nevis, a 50 MW solar PV plant with 30 MWh of battery storage, shore power for cruise ships, Advanced Metering Infrastructure, and microgrids and solar PV systems on government buildings.

“Every single one of these projects highlights the immediate need for the study we are launching today. We need this roadmap to harmonize these initiatives, and to guarantee that our infrastructure can handle this green revolution,” Maynard said.

Karima Degia, Cluster Manager for Nature, Climate and Energy at UNDP Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean, said the Government of St. Kitts and Nevis has set out a forward-looking vision that will require strong partnerships and sustained cooperation.

“The commitment to achieving a fully renewable energy future is both ambitious and forward-looking and UNDP is here to support translating this ambition into action,” Degia said. “We connect national priorities with international best practices, while ensuring that solutions remain grounded in the realities and needs of Small Island Developing States, for whom this transition is essential for energy security, economic resilience, and climate action.”

Luca Trinchieri, Team Leader for the Green Deal at the EU Delegation to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, OECS and CARICOM/CARIFORUM, said the European Union is proud to support St. Kitts and Nevis as it works toward a cleaner and more resilient energy system.

“St. Kitts and Nevis has set an ambitious vision for its energy future, and this initiative is an important step towards making that vision a reality,” Trinchieri said. “A clear and credible roadmap will help identify the investments, policies and technologies needed to expand renewable energy, strengthen energy security and reduce reliance on imported fossil fuels.”

He added that the renewable energy transition is not only a climate priority, but also an economic and development opportunity.

“By reducing dependence on imported fuels and harnessing its abundant renewable resources, St. Kitts and Nevis can build a more secure, competitive and sustainable future,” Trinchieri said.

Gianni Chianetta, Founder and Chair of the Greening The Islands Foundation, said St. Kitts and Nevis has the political will to become a renewable energy leader, both in the Caribbean and internationally.

“St. Kitts and Nevis has set out to become a renewable energy leader, not only in the Caribbean but globally, and the political will to get there is already strong,” Chianetta said. “Our role is to help turn that will into reality.”

He said GTI will use the 100 percent RES Islands Initiative methodology to bring together key island stakeholders, along with regional partners such as CCREEE and CARILEC, while building on existing studies and closing remaining gaps.

“Standardising the output of this work is what allows us to accelerate finance and deployment,” Chianetta said.

UNDP, as the implementing agency for Euroclima in the Caribbean, is working with the European Union and national governments to advance climate action, improve resilience and support cleaner energy systems. Through the Euroclima Caribbean program, the St. Kitts and Nevis roadmap is expected to support not only the country’s climate goals, but also its long-term energy independence and economic resilience.

The government says the roadmap will help ensure that the country’s renewable energy ambitions are matched by the infrastructure, investment planning and policy framework needed to make the transition practical and sustainable.

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