Barbados has launched the second phase of the competitive procurement process for Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), which brings the island closer to unlocking the grid and allowing for the further onboarding of renewable energy.
The procurement is being implemented through the Ministry of Energy and Business, and this phase involves the official release of the Request for Proposals (RFP) for up to 60 MW of grid-scale energy storage to be built, owned, and operated by private developers.
Speaking at today’s ceremony to launch the second phase of the BESS procurement, Minister of Energy and Business, Senator Lisa Cummins, underscored the project’s importance, saying it was about unlocking the grid.
“This project…is the transition from not being able to connect people’s projects to the grid at an individual level, not being able to unlock over…$500 million in potential investment that has been trapped in the banking system because these projects need to be operationalised. This is about energy independence and removing and replacing Barbados’ import bill for energy….
“We’ve gone from gridlock to now, this project, …grid unlock, and it is a clear signal that…Barbados is ready to lead, as it relates to the energy transition for the region and for countries beyond here. I know it has been a difficult journey for many of the investors…and…residential clients in this space,” she told her audience at the Lloyd Erskine Sandiford Centre.
Senator Cummins disclosed that the publication of the RFP, Energy Storage Agreement, Energy Storage Licence, Interconnection Agreement, Term Sheets, and detailed documents would be uploaded to the Government’s procurement platform Bonfire on July 9.
She stressed that her Ministry is committed to working with all stakeholders to achieve a clean energy transition, where 100 per cent of the energy is derived from renewable energy sources by 2035.
Country Representative of the Inter-American Development Bank, Carina Cockburn, said the Ministry, with its partners, had designed a transparent, competitive and investment-ready auction model, which reflected global best practice.
Ms. Cockburn continued: “The Minister and her team have continued to steer this effort forward with focus and ambition, bringing us to the second phase of the BESS procurement process. By embracing this approach, Barbados continues to set a powerful example for the region, one that reflects clarity of vision, solid policy alignment, and an overall commitment to energy resilience.
“Energy Storage is one of the most complex but necessary enablers of renewable energy integration. Without it, our progress hits a plateau; with it, we unlock stability, enhance reliability, and increase the use of renewable sources for electricity generation.”
The IDB Country Representative expressed the view that the work leading to phase two reflects the growing maturity of Barbados’ energy ecosystem, and positions the island as a reference point for other small island developing states.
“At the IDB, we are already looking at how the learning from this initiative can inform regional models across the Caribbean. We believe that the success of this procurement, beyond strengthening the grid, will build investor confidence, send the right market signals, and reinforce Barbados’ leadership in climate resilience and clean energy,” she proffered.
Managing Director of the Barbados Light and Power Company Limited, Roger Blackman, acknowledged the tremendous collaborative effort of the team, led by the Ministry of Energy and Business.
“Of course, it (BESS) is an essential item for our progress in the island and advancing renewable energy, as we all know. We need those batteries [like] yesterday, to keep things moving forward and to bring the level of stability that’s necessary in the network as we grow the renewable energy sector,” Mr. Blackman stated.
The coalition of local and international agencies supporting the procurement process includes RELP, NREL, Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet, Regulatory Assistance Project, IDB,International Finance Corporation, Barbados Light & Power Company, Fair Trading Commission, and the Central Bank of Barbados.
The first phase was launched on November 8, 2024, with a Request for Information.
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