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Renewable Energy Policy for Householders in Operation

HOUSEHOLDERS TO BENEFIT

The Householders’ Right to Renewable Energy Policy (RTRE) is now in operation, and persons installing domestic renewable energy systems up to 10 kilowatts (kW) will no longer have to apply for a licence.

Chief Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Officer in the Ministry of Energy and Business, William Hinds, made this disclosure today, as he addressed a press briefing about the RTRE Policy, at the Energy Division. He said the rollout of the policy means that householders will also now have space reserved on the electric grid for their renewable energy (RE) system, until they are ready to invest.

Mr. Hinds continued: “The Right to Renewable Energy Policy allows all householders who wish to install a renewable energy system on their property to have an almost instantaneous acceptance of their request, rather than having to go through the longer licensing process, where approval of the application is not guaranteed. The policy simplifies the process for householders to be connected to the grid.

“The purpose of the policy is to ensure that every householder can benefit financially by investing in the renewable energy sector. The benefits include reduced electricity bills and the potential for householders to earn revenue from the system installed, if their output is greater than usage.”

In this year’s Budgetary Proposals and Financial Statement, Prime Minister Mia Amor Mottley outlined a policy to, among other things, give every Barbadian household the right to own and install RE systems up to a maximum of 10 kW, without the requirement for a Generation Licence under the Electric Light and Power Act (ELPA).

Previously, renewable energy systems of 5kW and above were required to have a licence under the ELPA. This licence attracted an application and licence fee that had to be paid by the householder.

The Right to Renewable Energy Policy raises this threshold to system sizes up to 10kW. Persons who have a renewable system on their house may expand it up to a total capacity of 10kW, without the need for a licence.

Mr. Hinds disclosed that the Ministry of Energy and Business has developed an online portal for domestic renewable energy systems up to 10kW. The Right to Renewable Energy Online Portal is accessible through the Ministry’s website – www.energy.gov.bb – or via the link https://apps.energy.gov.bb/re4me/.

“This is a fully online and immediate registration process, and householders will receive their certificate within minutes of applying,” the Chief Energy Conservation and Renewable Energy Officer stated.

The Government Electrical Engineering Department has provided free pre-approved single line design drawings for renewable energy systems for householders. These designs are available on the Right to Renewable Energy Online Portal, or they may be downloaded from the Ministry’s website. Persons may also use their own designs.

To register on the portal, householders are required to provide the following information:

Contact information – name, address, phone, email address;
The Barbados Light and Power account and meter numbers, as shown on the electricity bill, to which the renewable energy system will be connected;
Barbados National Registration number or passport number;
Roof size in square feet, if the system will be mounted on the roof;
The type and size of the renewable energy system, for example, 2.5kW solar.

On completion of the online registration form, a verification code will be sent to the email address provided, which the applicant must enter when prompted, and then the registration certificate will be immediately sent. (PR/GIS)

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SPECIAL POLLING DAY NOTICE

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FundAccess To Host Legal Clinic Workshop from May 13th

Entrepreneurs will soon get another opportunity to learn about critical legal matters that are key to the operation of their businesses.

FundAccess will be hosting The Legal Clinic Workshop, which will commence on Tuesday, May 13, and continue each Tuesday, until May 27, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

The workshop will be facilitated by Attorney-at-law Ondene Kirton and participants will discuss Understanding Business Legal Structures; Contracts & Agreements; Employment Law & Compliance; and Examination of the Various Laws Relating to Small Business.

During those sessions, the participants will be exposed to sole proprietorship, partnerships, corporations – pro and cons; how to choose the right legal structure for a business; the importance of contracts in business operations; avoiding common contract pitfalls; and employee rights & employer responsibilities, among others. Some of the pieces of legislation to be examined include the Employment Rights Act and National Insurance and Social Security Act.

Interested persons may attend the workshop in person at FundAccess’ Pinfold Street, Bridgetown location, or online via the Zoom Platform. To register, click on the following link: https://bit.ly/3Fu09Jv.

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Centenarian Built On Firm Foundation Set By Grandmother

“Trust God first” is the mantra of one of Barbados’ newest centenarians, Athelstan Browne, who celebrated his 100th birthday on April 29, 2025, at his home in Montrose, Christ Church, surrounded by family and friends.

One of his specially invited guests was President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason.

Mr. Browne shared that he grew up “not knowing a mummy” as his mother passed away at age 23, when he was two years old, and his brother was only one year old.

Crediting his grandmother for his upbringing, Mr. Brown remarked: “I had a real good, good grandmother that raised two of us, and everything we learn before we went to school, she taught us.”

Pointing to a humble yet deeply religious upbringing, Mr. Browne said: “I and my brother slept on the floor. Our grandmother spread things down there, and she just put the pillow under our head.”

He recalled that they had to sing the hymn “Under the Blood” before going to bed, and first thing in the morning before they had breakfast, which usually consisted of “a cup of tea and two biscuits”. Adding that the hymn was “our song”, Mr. Browne sang the hymn from memory.

Stressing that his grandmother was a great provider, he noted: “My grandmother had land, and she would work the land…. We would eat raw potato, raw okras, (green) peas, cucumbers…. The only thing we did not eat was raw yams and eddoes.”

Mr. Browne continues to enjoy his ground provisions “with a little rice”, as he likes his rice with green peas, and if available, chicken boiled with the rice. “I am a fish man,” he remarked, eating it either fried or with a “stew sauce”.

Continuing to nurture his Christian beliefs, he joined the Mount Ararat United Holy Church (currently in Dayrell’s Road, Christ Church) in 1967, at age 33, and has continued there ever since.

Once the Superintendent of the Sunday School at the church, Mr. Browne is still instrumental in providing leadership to the youth there. “I have a crowd of young people at church that love me…especially when I have to talk to them…. It is what they should hear and what they should have,” he said.

The centenarian was raised in Montrose, Christ Church, and attended the Christ Church Boys’ School (now Milton Lynch Primary School). After leaving school, Mr. Browne initially took to agriculture but then worked cutting soft stone in two quarries in Christ Church.

In 1947, at the age of 22, he decided to join the US Farm Labour Programme and took the first Pan American Airlines flight out of Barbados. Over 10 years later, Mr. Browne returned to Barbados and married Monica Browne (deceased). Together, they built the house where he currently resides.

Returning to his roots in agriculture, the centenarian worked at the Ridge Plantation, Christ Church, until retirement. He also planted and reaped ground produce at home, as well as planted and cut canes.

Mr. Browne, who is generally in good health and has a sharp memory, still works around the home and enjoys reading, which he does without glasses. He also keeps in touch with his family in New York and North Carolina, and will do some travelling, but he is always ready to return home.

After toasting the centenarian, Her Excellency remarked: “You are in the midst of a lot of love, and I am sure you are going to enjoy the rest of your birthday. I am really happy to have met you. I am grateful for the work that you still continue to do with our young people because a lot of them lack direction, and we, nowadays, don’t take enough time to sit down and speak with them…. We don’t remind them that they are important, that they are somebody.”

Mr. Browne responded: “You got to make them understand what … the Lord expects of them… We have to acknowledge the Lord.”

Mr. Browne has two children, 10 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren and two great-great-grandchildren. (PR/GIS)

Caption: President of Barbados, Her Excellency, The Most Honourable Dame Sandra Mason, and Barbados’ newest centenarian Athelstan Browne take a walk outside during his birthday celebrations in Montrose, Christ Church