ORANJESTAD, STATIA--Representatives of the Government of St. Eustatius (Statia) participated in a regional renewable energy workshop in St. Kitts and Nevis on October 27 and 28, sharing the island's experience with solar power and battery storage as Caribbean countries explore ways to reduce their dependence on fossil fuels and strengthen electricity reliability.
Statia was represented by Deputy Island Secretary Nikima Hickinson and Senior Policy Advisor for Economy, Nature and Infrastructure (ENI) Maldwyn Timber. Their participation followed an invitation from Greening the Islands Foundation (GTI) Chairman Gianni Chianetta and the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities of St. Kitts and Nevis.
The two-day workshop, held at the St. Kitts Marriott Resort, brought together government representatives, energy specialists and regional partners to examine the preliminary findings of St. Kitts and Nevis' 100% Renewable Energy Transition Roadmap.
Discussions focused on the technical, financial and regulatory considerations involved in transitioning toward renewable energy, particularly for small Caribbean islands where electricity generation remains heavily dependent on imported fossil fuels.
Participants reviewed proposals involving solar energy, battery storage systems, improvements to electricity networks and the potential development of geothermal energy. Particular attention was given to maintaining grid stability while increasing the share of renewable energy in national electricity systems.
For Statia, the workshop provided an opportunity to contribute practical experience from its own renewable energy development, including the integration of solar power and battery storage into the island's electricity network.
The discussions also examined battery storage capacity, regulatory requirements and the challenges associated with ensuring a reliable electricity supply while reducing reliance on conventional generation.
The workshop was organized by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure, Energy and Utilities of St. Kitts and Nevis in partnership with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), through the European Union-funded EUROCLIMA program, and the Greening the Islands Foundation.
The regional initiative seeks to support Caribbean islands in identifying practical approaches to renewable energy development, strengthening technical cooperation and sharing lessons from existing projects.
Statia's participation reflects the island government's continued interest in regional collaboration on energy policy and infrastructure development.
By exchanging experiences with neighboring islands, Statia aims to contribute to broader discussions on how small island electricity systems can incorporate renewable energy while maintaining the reliability needed to support households, businesses and economic development.
The workshop also underscored the value of cooperation among Caribbean territories facing similar challenges related to energy costs, infrastructure investment and the transition toward cleaner electricity generation.
