More green energy producers can apply to sell to grid

More Cayman property owners who are generating renewable energy can apply to sell their excess power to the grid thanks to a recent capacity upgrade.

The Utility Regulation and Competition Office (OfReg) has approved an additional 6 megawatts for Caribbean Utilities Company customers.

From 19 July, green energy producers can sign up to the Consumer Owned Renewable Energy (CORE) and Distributed Energy Resources (DER) programmes to sell their power.

Applicants will have to pay $250 to be part of one of the programmes, and the application process will close as soon as the 6-megawatt limit has been reached, CUC said.

CORE allows customers with solar PV systems with a kilowatt peak load of up to 10 kilowatts to connect to CUC’s distribution grid and receive credit for generated power.

The power company will pay $0.175 per kilowatt hour for solar PV systems of 5 kilowatts and below, and $0.150 per kWh for systems up to 10 kilowatts.

Meanwhile, DER allows customers to connect larger renewable energy systems with a peak load of up to 250 kilowatts, such as small-scale solar systems or wind turbines, to CUC’s grid.

The limited capacity of the two renewable energy programmes since their launch in 2009 (CORE) and 2018 (DER) has left many producers of clean energy unable to profit from their excess power.

James Whittaker, president of the Cayman Renewable Energy Association, congratulated the government for “taking another step in progressing renewable energy in the Cayman Islands”.

The clean energy advocate told the Compass he looked forward to government’s additional efforts to ensure consumer’s rights to choice in energy and fair competition in the energy sector.

As of February 2023, renewable energy accounted for just 3% of Grand Cayman’s energy production. The government’s National Energy Policy 2017-2037 target is 70%.

The Cabinet-appointed Energy Policy Council, responsible for the five-year review of the policy, said it is considering a white paper on solar and battery energy storage systems.

The Cayman Renewable Energy Association’s paper asked the government to allow Cayman residents to install the systems at homes or businesses without prior permission.

The easy-to-install technology will provide a cost-effective energy solution, support life safety and quality, and help with grid resiliency, the association said.