News Projects Sustainable Energy
3 min.
In support of Saba’s Energy Sector Strategy 2020-2025, the Public Entity Saba will receive €4,1 million from the European Union. In a letter addressed to Saba’s Governor Jonathan Johnson, Jutta Urpilainen, Commissioner for International Partnerships and Member of the European Commission, recently announced that the European Commission has adopted the Multi-annual Indicative Program for Saba, which is naturally very good news for everyone involved, including the tiny island’s local population.
Milestone for renewable energy policy in Saba
The previously mentioned Energy Sector Strategy 2020-2025 focuses on Saba’s wish to move away from fossil fuels and towards a more sustainable, more affordable, and more self-sufficient supply of energy to the island, and a supply that is less vulnerable to extreme weather conditions. After earlier funding for the development of renewable energy sources on the island itself through the 11th European Development Fund, the recently announced €4,1 million of funding aims at building on those investments in order to further improve the stability and sustainability of Saba’s energy production.
“This decision represents a very significant milestone in reinforcing and concretizing our partnership built on shared objectives, principles and values”, stated Commissioner Urpilainen in the letter to Governor Johnson, “It provides us with the mandate to define concrete actions in the mutually-agreed priority area of renewable energy, thus advancing the objectives and envisaged results for the benefit of Saba and your citizens”.
What will the new round of funding be primarily used for?
The funding from Europe shows the Union’s dedication to a genuine and sustainable transition towards renewable energy sources for Saba and indeed the entire Dutch Caribbean. The money will be spent in two major areas, namely:
Solar parks
Through earlier funding from the European Union, Saba could finance a brand-new solar park at the island’s airport, right next to Juancho Yrausquin Boulevard. This project is of huge significance for Saba’s energy sector and had led to about 40% of the island’s entire energy supply coming from renewable resources when measured over a 24-hour period. The goal is to reach 60% by 2025 and for the island to run entirely on renewable energy as soon as possible.
Wind power
In order to reach those ambitious goals, the local authorities and the EU are not just looking at solar energy, but also at wind power. Currently, feasibility studies are being carried out in regard to the addition of more wind power as part of the island’s renewable energy ambitions. Part of the incoming €4,1 million of EU grant money will be used to finance the creation of an energy efficient program, the conversion of the electric grid into a smart grid, and the construction of a structure that can produce at least one Megawatt of additional energy from wind (or solar). In terms of possible locations for a wind power structure, Saba’s harbor looks like the ideal location, though the feasibility of this location is still dependent on the necessary environmental research and impact assessment studies.
The basis for this article was originally published on www.saba-news.com in March 2022.
