A small Caribbean island takes a big solar step forward

St. Lucia aims to generate 35% of its energy from green sources by 2020

St. Lucia aims to generate 35% of its energy from green sources by 2020

Saint Lucia is one of the fifteen countries most vulnerable to climate change, which became the first nations to ratify the Paris Climate Agreement in April. Even though the country is responsible for about 0.0015% of global carbon emissions, it is disproportionally affected by the consequences of climate change, which range from damages from rising sea levels to increasingly strong and frequent tropical storms.

Recently, as part of a wider project to generate 35% of its energy from green sources by 2020, St. Lucia’s officials installed solar panels on the island’s Government House. This move was first announced at the Paris COP21 Climate Conference in December 2015, and it was realized in partnership with Solar Head of State, a non-profit organization which helps world leaders become clean energy role models by installing solar PV on prominent government buildings. The partnership intends to install enough solar nationwide to power 5-8% of the country’s total energy demand.

“The commitment of Saint Lucia to transit from dependence on fossil fuels to more renewable sources of energy is demonstrated here by this project to install solar panels at the Governor General’s official residence.” said Gale Rigobert, St. Lucia’s Minister with Responsibility for Renewable Energy.

Solar Head of State is also planning a rollout in the Caribbean, with the aim of realizing similar projects in five more countries in the months to come.

The Government House in St. Lucia is now solar.

Source: Caribbean Journal