The Tribune

By NATARIO McKENZIE

Tribune Business Reporter

nmckenzie@tribunemedia.net

The Government is aiming to begin registration for its residential energy self-generation (RESG) program me by mid-April, a Cabinet minister said yesterday, in a bid to understand the extent to which renewable energy is currently deployed in the Bahamas.

Speaking at a press conference yesterday with representatives of the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA), the Carbon War Room and the Rocky Mountain Institute, Kenred Dorsett said that amendments to the Electricity Act, which are now in effect, allow for renewable energy systems to be tied into BEC’s electricity grid.

The Minister of the Environment and Housing said IRENA, Carbon War Room and Rocky Mountain Institute executives will assist the Government in reviewing the registration applications and interconnection agreements.

“They will be asked to review the registration applications and interconnection agreements that we hope to finalise over the next two weeks,  so that beginning mid-next month we can begin the registrations for persons who have generating systems using either solar or wind technologies,” said Mr Dorsett.

“The Office of the Attorney General is working together with BEC, the Ministry of Works and the Ministry of the Environment and Housing to finalise those  forms. Now that the law is in effect, people want to register, and we want them to register so that we can understand what is the current deployment of renewable energy technologies in the country.”

The Government has said that under the renewable energy self generation programme, consumers can generate energy through alternative energy sources, tie into the current electrical grid, and receive a credit for excess supply fed in.

“The registration process is going to be helpful for us to understand the extent to which renewable energy is currently deployed in the country, and ensure that where those technologies are to be connected to the grid, that the Ministry of Works and BEC are satisfied that they have been connected properly,” said Mr Dorsett.

  “There is a provision in the law which speaks to existing systems. There may be a general concern publicly as to whether, if someone already has a system in place, whether that precludes them from complying with the law.

“That is not the case. You are still able to come in and register your system. I think that the Ministry of Works will set a timeframe for that registration for those who are in that situation.”