Reconstruction with Resilience in the Energy Sector in the Bahamas
Technical Assistance
On September 1st, 2019, The Bahamas was impacted by category 5 Hurricane Dorian, the strongest on record for the country. According to the Damage and Loss Assessment (DALA), Dorian damaged 54% of the total infrastructure of the country’s power sector.
Through LACIF, the EU joined forces with IDB to support The Bahamas government in its rehabilitation of critical energy infrastructure and restoration of electricity service in islands heavily affected by hurricane Dorian, while integrating renewable energy.
In order to build the capacities of The Bahamas government to become more resilient to climate change and extreme weather events, the project invests a total of 81.000.000 euros in resilient infrastructure, stronger environmental protection, and renewable energy as a cleaner and cheaper energy source.
The project is declined into the main following 3 components:
- Immediate Rehabilitation to Introduce More Resilient and Renewable Energy Infrastructure in Abaco and Great Bahama.
- Reliable and Renewable Electricity in New Providence and Family Islands.
- Set-up of the Renewable Energy Entity and Enabling Environment for renewable energy.
- Financing some 2,907 kW of renewable energy capacity, of which 2,500 kW correspond to microgrids with storage capacity and 407 kW to solar rooftop projects.
- Generating around 4,954 MWh/year (assuming a capacity factor of 18.34%)
- Avoiding approximately 4,656 tons of CO2/ year during the project’s lifetime.
- Higher number of registered beneficiaries to receive training and a technical certificate, half of which should be women.
- A paid internship program for around 10 women and a pilot project for training and job placement in the country's energy sector.
More specifically, this 4-year long project will achieve:
- 3,705 potential customers with electricity service restored in Abaco and East Grand Bahama;
- 16,400 kW of renewable energy capacity installed;
- A renewable energy entity and a new regulatory framework;
- Trainings and certifications for the installation of photovoltaic systems;
- Women participation in key positions in the Renewable Energy Entity.
