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Grenada empowers local solar energy producers with new initiative

Loop News

September 21, 2024 4:00 PM ET

2 mins read

Grenada’s Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) has issued licenses to eight investors as part of its Small-Scale Independent Power Producers (SSIPP) programme. 

The ceremony, held on September 19,marks a crucial milestone in the country’s efforts to diversify its energy sector and reduce reliance on fossil fuels.

The SSIPP programme, launched in 2021, aims to increase the penetration of green energy into Grenada’s national grid.

Andrew Millet, Chief Executive Officer at the PURC, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating, “This programme is intended to give power producers in Grenada the ability to own solar plants to produce renewable energy that can then be sold to GRENLEC.”

Millet highlighted the current dependency on thermal generator plants, noting, “Over one hundred and fifty million dollars are spent on fuel for these generators annually. We intend to reduce this significantly in the coming years by having more solar plants installed.”

The Grenada Electricity Services Limited (GRENLEC) will play a crucial role in facilitating the integration of this renewable energy into the national grid. 

Clive Hosten, Acting General Manager at GRENLEC, expressed the company’s support for the initiative while emphasizing the need for a balanced approach: “While we are extremely interested and we are pro-renewables, we do have to look at this holistically as we are the ones operating the grid. Thus, we must ensure that we have reliable electricity for all our customers.”

The PURC said it is not stopping with this initial group of licensees. A second iteration of the SSIPP Programme is already underway, with a Request for Proposal (RFP) open until October 10, 2024.