Energy profile: Barbados
Fuel mix (fossil fuels vs renewables)
As of 2020, Barbados derived 93% of its electricity from fossil fuels, with the remaining 7% generated by solar energy.[1] Barbados aims to become the first 100% renewable energy and carbon neutral island nation by 2030 as the country moves away from a petroleum based economy via the Barbados National Energy Policy (BNEP) 2019-2030.[2]
Greenhouse gas emissions targets
Barbados aims to be carbon neutral by 2030.[3]
Government energy agencies & other key players
National energy ministry
According to the Barbados government website, "The Natural Resources Department within the Ministry of Energy, Small Business and Entrepreneurship promotes and provides policy, legislative and regulatory oversight with respect to the exploration, development and production of Barbados’ onshore and offshore hydrocarbon resources."[4] Established in 1978, the Ministry of Energy is presently responsible for oil and gas, renewable energy, and energy conservation as well as monitoring the Barbados National Oil Company, Barbados National Terminal Company, and the National Petroleum Corporation.[5]
MEWR (Ministry of Energy and Water Resources) is responsible for energy generation in Barbados.
Permitting agencies
The Ministry of Environment and National Beautification oversees environmental protection through permitting.
Regulatory agencies
The Project Monitoring & Coordination Team ensures energy projects align with the BNEP 2019-2030.[2] The Ministry of Environment and National Beautification regulates the energy industry by ensuring environmental protections. The Barbados Fair Trading Commission is another regulatory entity. Mining regulation is overseen by the Geology and Mining Department.
Electric utilities
BL&P (Barbados Light & Power Company) is responsible for electrical generation and transmission.
National oil company
The BNOCL (Barbados National Oil Company Limited) is responsible for the exploration and production of hydrocarbons in Barbados.
Leading energy companies
Integrated Sustainability and Williams Solar are notable energy companies.
Energy sector employment data
As of 2020, 18.93% of Barbadians worked in the industry sector which is comprised of mining, quarrying, manufacturing, construction, electricity, gas, and water.[6]
Electricity usage
Installed capacity
As of 2020, the installed electrical capacity of Barbados was 317 MW.[1]
Production
In 2020, Barbados produced 1.05 TWh of electricity.[1]
Demand
As of 2018, peak electrical demand was 152.3 MW[7]
Consumption
In 2016, Barbados consumed 990 million kWh of electricity.[8]
Coal in Barbados
Barbados does not produce, consume, import or export coal.
Oil & Natural Gas in Barbados
Domestic Production
The Barbados National Oil Company (BNOCL) is responsible for onshore exploration, production, and procurement of oil and gas.[5] The Barbados National Terminal Company is responsible for the terminaling and storage of crude oil and refined petroleum products. The Barbados National Petroleum Corporation (NPC) is responsible for the distribution of locally produced and imported natural gas.
Barbados has no onshore reserves of oil or gas.[9] As of 2018, Barbados was producing 1,000 barrels per day of crude oil from offshore sites[8] most of which was shipped to Petrotrin in Trinidad and Tobago.[10] Barbados was producing 14.16 million cu m of natural gas in 2017 and had 141.6 million cu m of proven natural gas reserves as of January 2018.[8]
Consumption
Barbados consumes 11,000 barrels per day of refined petroleum products as of 2016.[8] The island consumed 19.82 million cu m of natural gas in 2017.[8]
Imports & source countries
Barbados imports no crude oil. Barbados imports 10,630 barrels per day of refined petroleum products as of 2016.[8] As of 2021, the NPC website acknowledged the growing demand for natural gas which has prompted research into the importation of natural gas into Barbados.[11]
Proposed new sources & projects
In 2020, MEWR issued offshore exploration licenses to BHP Petroleum.[12] In March 2021, the Ministry of Energy announced that Barbados was restarting fossil fuel exploration after a pause due to COVID-19.[13]
Transport
The Inter-Caribbean Natural Gas Pipeline was a proposed natural gas pipeline passing through Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Martinique, and Guadeloupe that was cancelled.
Renewable Energy in Barbados
The BNEP 2019-2030 calls for Barbados to become the first 100% renewable energy and carbon neutral island nation by 2030.[3] Ocean energy projects, including fixed and floating wind farms, are a key area for renewable energy expansion.[14] By 2023, the BNEP aims to have between a 52% increase in renewable energy.[3] The BNEP anticipates solar PV, solar thermal, wind, biofuels, and biogas will all make up the renewable energy mix by 2030.[3]
As of December 2021, Prime Minister Mottley projected every household on the island would have a solar paneled roof and electric car.[15]
Iron & Steel in Barbados
There is no iron and steel industry in Barbados.[16]
Environmental & social impacts of energy in Barbados
The island of Barbados is greatly affected by many aspects of climate change including sea level rise and increased power of storms. Accordingly, the move towards renewable energy for the island is an attempt to mitigate some of the effects of climate change which the country is experiencing.[17] Tourism accounts for 40% of the GDP and adverse effects brought to the island by climate change severely damage the livelihoods of many. New off shore oil drilling operations are a threat to marine life and tourism.[18]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 "Panorama Energético de América Latina y el Caribe 2021". OLADE. November 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Project Monitoring & Coordination – Energy.gov.bb". energy.gov.bb. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 "Barbados National Energy Policy 2019-2030". Ministry of Energy and Water Resources. 2019.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Overview". Ministry of Energy, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 5.0 5.1 "About the Ministry". Ministry of Energy, Small Business, and Entrepreneurship. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Barbados - employment by economic sector | Statista". Statista. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ↑ "Barbados Energy Snapshot" (PDF). Energy Transitions Initiative. September 2020.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ 8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3 8.4 8.5 "Barbados - The World Factbook". www.cia.gov. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ↑ "Mining" (PDF). United Nations - Sustainable Development.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Products – Barbados National Oil Company Ltd". Retrieved 2021-10-04.
- ↑ "About Us". NPC: The Energy People. 2021. Retrieved October 4, 2021.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ Amarsys. "Barbados issues offshore exploration licences to BHP". www.energy-pedia.com. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ↑ "Search for offshore oil and gas 'soon to resume' - Barbados Today". Barbados Today. 2021-03-16. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ↑ "Ocean Energy Being Considered For Barbados – Energy.gov.bb". energy.gov.bb. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ↑ ""Que todas las casas de la isla tengan paneles solares y un vehículo eléctrico:" Mia Amor Mottley, Primer Ministra de Barbados". PV Magazine. December 21, 2021. Retrieved May 2, 2022.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ↑ "Geology and Mining – Energy.gov.bb". energy.gov.bb. Retrieved 2021-05-21.
- ↑ "4 Facts About Renewable Energy in Barbados | The Borgen Project". The Borgen Project. 2021-05-08. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
- ↑ "Barbados issues oil exploration licences - Stabroek News". Stabroek News. 2020-02-07. Retrieved 2021-05-24.
